Kazakhstan to Boost Natural Gas Exports to China Following New Agreement

QazaqGaz and PetroChina International have signed a deal to increase Kazakh natural gas supplies to China, reports Orda.kz.

The agreement comes as China implements retaliatory tariffs on U.S. energy imports amid ongoing trade tensions.

The agreement was formalized on February 12 at the Kazakhstan-China Business Forum in Astana.

QazaqGaz Chair Sanzhar Zharkeshov and PetroChina International Executive Board Chairman Wu Junli signed an addendum to their three-year gas purchase and sale contract.

This step will increase the volume of gas exports to China in 2025, which confirms the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China in the energy sector. The Kazakh gas industry is a reliable supplier of resources to strengthen the region's energy security, QazaqGaz stated.

While specific volume increases were not disclosed, QazaqGaz's expansion plans are currently constrained by pipeline capacity.

The company is planning a new pipeline branch to China, with construction expected to take two to three years.

Kazakhstan may also emerge as a crucial transit route for increasing Russian gas exports to China.

Notably, Türkiye and Turkmenistan also signed a natural gas supply agreement. 

Original Author: Nikita Drobny