Uzbekistan to Start Gas Supplies to China in April: Report

Uzbekistan's state-owned pipeline operator Uztransgaz is to start gas supplies to China via the Central Asia-China pipeline in April, Russian news agency Prime reported Friday, citing a source in Uztransgaz.

The source didn't provide information on supply volumes in 2012, adding that the supplies are in line with a gas contract between the two countries signed in the fourth quarter of 2010.

A spokeswoman for Uztransgaz declined to comment on the issue when contacted by Platts for confirmation of the report.

"I am not saying the information is incorrect. However, we cannot comment on it. We do not comment on details of our contract agreements," she said.

The spokeswoman confirmed that gas supplies will be in line with a contract between Uzbekistan and China signed in late 2011.

In June 2010, Tashkent and Beijing signed a framework agreement, under which state-owned oil and gas producer Uzbekneftegaz is to supply 10 billion cu m/year of natural gas to China's CNPC, according to CNPC's website.

CNPC didn't reveal supply volumes and the timeframe of the contract.