Uzbekistan, Tashkent, September 13 /Trend, D.Azizov/
Project on reconstruction of gas storage facility in Gazli (Bukhara region of Uzbekistan) worth $241.76 million is postponed for an indefinite period, the representative of Uzbekneftegaz National Holding Company (NHC) told Trend on Friday.
According to him, the project of reconstruction in order to increase the volume of gas storage by 50 percent that is from four to six billion cubic meters has been postponed due to the reduction of gas exports to the north.
"The project will be excluded from the investment program of the year and will not be included in the program of 2014," the source said.
As it was reported earlier, the project on expansion of Gazli gas storage facility that would enable to regulate seasonal irregularities in gas consumption in winter and increase gas exports from previously pumped gas storage Gazli, was planned to implement in several years.
The implementation of the project would provide the regular gas supply to the north, in particular, to Russia, in the volume of 25 billion cubic meters per year.
Reduction of gas supply to Russia has been observed for several years. In 2012, Uzbekistan delivered to Russia about 8.7 billion cubic meters of gas, in 2013, shipments are planned in the amount of 7.5 billion cubic meters.
In 2012, Uzbekistan began to export gas to China. Gas supplies are also carried out in small quantities to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
As reported, Uzbekneftegaz NHC plans to complete the construction of a booster compressor station (BCS) at Gazli field worth $261 million by late 2013. The new BCS will enter into the infrastructure of Central Asia-China pipeline, commissioned in December 2010.
Gazli gas field is one of the largest in the Bukhara-Khiva region, and has been operated since 1961. The initial gas reserves of the field reached about 500 billion cubic meters. At the moment they are depleted.
Transportation of gas from Gazli field is being carried out through Bukhara-Ural and Central Asia-Center main gas pipelines, through which gas exports from Uzbekistan to the Urals and the European part of Russia, are being carried out.
As it was reported, in 2012 the gas production in Uzbekistan decreased by 0.2 percent- to 62.911 billion cubic meters.