Kazakhstan Turns to Russian Gas as Domestic Demand Surges

Kazakhstan has signed an agreement to purchase 11 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia's Gazprom, up from 4 million cubic meters in 2025. This increase is due to surging domestic demand in Kazakhstan.

The country has been a net exporter of natural gas for years and reached a record production level of 68.1 billion cubic meters in 2025. However, domestic demand is rising rapidly.

The purchase price was not disclosed by Gazprom, but it is likely to be lower than usual due to the Russian energy company's need for revenue to fund its operations, including its war effort in Ukraine.

Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are following a strategy of importing cheap gas from Russia while maintaining their own export earnings. Uzbekistan imported 9 billion cubic meters of mainly Russian gas in 2025, generating $1.66 billion in revenue.

The US Congress has passed a sanctions bill that could disrupt Kazakhstan's import plans, enabling the president to impose punitive tariffs on any nation that purchases Russian energy.