Promoting cooperation in the energy sector, China and Uzbekistan begin construction of new underground gas storage facilities

China is promoting multiple energy cooperation projects in Uzbekistan, "said Qichuan, a special correspondent for Global Times in Kazakhstan. The Uzi Daily website reported on the 2nd that the Uzbekistan Ministry of Energy and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) recently signed a memorandum of cooperation to jointly build a new underground natural gas storage facility. According to a special reporter from Global Times, the site for the gas storage facility is located in the Kolabail gas field in the Kazan district of Kashkadaria state, with a designed storage capacity of 1.5 billion cubic meters.

The report states that underground gas storage is an important component of natural gas supply, especially in cases of seasonal demand fluctuations or sudden supply interruptions. At present, there are only two underground gas storage facilities in Uzbekistan, Gazli and Khojabad. Faced with the increasing demand for natural gas, existing storage facilities are insufficient in terms of capacity and geographical coverage. The underground gas storage facility currently under planning is expected to play a key role in the transportation of natural gas pipelines between China and Central Asia, effectively avoiding regional energy shortages and ensuring stable natural gas supply.

The energy cooperation between Ukraine and China has gone beyond simple trade and moved towards the entire industry chain. According to the Daryo website of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy and the Chinese Petroleum delegation recently held discussions on expanding energy cooperation and launching new strategic projects, covering multiple key areas, including the key development of the Bukhara condensate gas field project, joint promotion of key projects such as the China Central Asia natural gas pipeline D line, and China's training of professionals in the oil and gas field for Uzbekistan.

On the 3rd, Kenzaev, deputy editor in chief of the People's Speech newspaper in Uzbekistan, told a special correspondent of the Global Times that for the people of Uzbekistan, whether it is the natural gas pipeline that runs through multiple regions of the country from Central Asia to China, the wind and solar power plants built in rural areas, or the small hydropower stations under construction, they have all become symbols of friendship between Uzbekistan and China. He believes that cooperation in the energy sector remains one of the most promising areas of cooperation between Ukraine and China. The implementation of new projects, including the joint construction of natural gas storage facilities, will help enhance Ukraine's energy potential and security, and improve environmental sustainability.

In recent years, significant achievements have been made in the cooperation between China and Central Asian countries in the field of energy. As of the end of 2024, the China Kazakhstan oil pipeline has transported over 170 million tons of oil to China, and the China Central Asia natural gas pipeline A, B, and C has transported over 500 billion cubic meters of gas to China. In the future, with the construction of the D line of the China Central Asia natural gas pipeline, the position of natural gas from Central Asia in China's energy supply system will become even more important.

Source: Global Times Author: Qi Chuan