Kazakhstan's decision on gas union with Russia, Uzbekistan to be based exclusively on economic feasibility - Foreign Ministry

ASTANA. Dec 22 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan views a proposed trilateral gas union with Russia and Uzbekistan as nothing but a commercial proposition aimed to integrate gas supply markets, Kazakh Deputy Foreign Minister Almas Aidarov said.

"Perhaps, in this case, the word 'union' makes everyone nervous. We do not see this as an establishment of a supranational body or an integration institution. We view this as a commercial proposition to integrate gas markets for gas supply. We have not received any proposals to date," Aidarov said at a press conference on Thursday.

"This is just an oral proposition from the Russian side, it has not been formally submitted," he said.

"[We] will proceed from the economic feasibility of this proposal and see whether it meets our interests. There is no need to search for a political overtone in this proposition," Aidarov said.

Kazakh Energy Minister Bolat Akchulakov said earlier that Kazakhstan, Russia and Uzbekistan were discussing the technical capacities of gas transportation systems, while the establishment of a union was not on the table.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin on November 28 that Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the need to form a trilateral gas union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan at their negotiations.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak told reporters later that Russia was planning to use the project of a trilateral gas union with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to meet domestic gas demand and to increase export potential.