Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Saturday that his country began natural gas deliveries to Uzbekistan via Kazakhstan.
Putin, along with the presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, respectively, attended a ceremony for the delivery.
Putin said the shipment will further strengthen cooperation between the three countries.
Tokayev said the delivery n is a historic development.
And Mirziyoyev indicated Uzbekistan wants to expand cooperation with Russia and Kazakhstan in the oil and gas sector.
Uzbekistan, which is among the natural gas-producing countries, decided to import natural gas from Russia for the first time because of the decline in production capacity.
It will import 7 million cubic meters of natural gas per day from Russia for two years, in line with an agreement signed with Russian energy company, Gazprom.
Reporting by Emre Gurkan Abay in Moscow
Writing by Handan Kazanci
Anadolu Agency