The Central Asia Gas Ring would link Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan via more than 3,000 kilometres of fresh and enhanced pipelines.

The concept received attention at the second Central Asia Oil and Gas Forum held in Tashkent.

Kazakh energy specialist Askar Ismailov introduced the concept during the forum's first gathering in 2025.

He projects core infrastructure expenses at $5bn (€4.46bn), split between $2bn (€1.78bn) for new builds and $3bn (€2.68bn) for upgrades and digital systems. The network could transport roughly 20bn cubic metres of gas each year, according to his assessment.

Advantages for five nations through a joint gas system

The plan accounts for varying gas reserves, facilities and consumption patterns across Central Asia. Turkmenistan, holding large reserves, might secure extra regional buyers, while the remaining countries gain greater supply flexibility.

Ismailov currently consults for the Geneva-based Global Gas Centre, a non-profit group uniting gas executives and specialists, which is helping drive the initiative forward.

“The Gas Ring project is a very interesting one because it will enhance the security of supply of all these countries,” the centre's executive director, Valérie Ducrot, told Euronews.

Uzbekistan ranks as both a significant producer and user of gas, with consumption climbing in winter months. Kazakhstan also generates gas, yet much of its reserves lie in the west, distant from main population areas.

Kyrgyzstan depends on imported gas, whereas Tajikistan draws most electricity from hydropower yet still brings in gas. Tajikistan received 126.4m cubic metres from Uzbekistan in the first half of 2026, per its energy ministry.

The nations already conduct cross-border gas trade. The proposed ring would expand these links by adding segments and modernising lines to support more adaptable movements.

“When Uzbekistan or some other Central Asian countries like Kyrgyzstan or Tajikistan demand more gas during winter time, we can do it in reverse mode,” said Assylbek Jakiyev, chairman of PetroCouncil Kazakhstan, an oil and gas industry association.

He referred to the possibility of reverse flows, not a settled operational plan.

Advancing from concept to funding

Ismailov noted that Uzbekistan's national oil and gas firm, Uzbekneftegaz, showed interest following initial discussions.

He added that the Global Gas Centre concluded a memorandum of understanding in May with officials in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region inside Uzbekistan.

He mentioned talks with potential investors from China and the Middle East.

Apart from funding, the scheme would need accords on delivery volumes, transit protocols and management of linked pipelines, including bidirectional sections.

No final funding model, consensus among all five governments or build schedule has been disclosed publicly. The estimated cost and capacity remain projections from the proposal's supporters.

Uzbekistan boosts exploration amid falling gas production

Uzbekistan aims to reinforce local output alongside regional ties. Major industrial firms yielded 24.2bn cubic metres of natural gas from January to August 2026, a 16.3% drop from the prior year, based on national data.

During an October assessment, Uzbek officials stated that five new gas-condensate fields were found this year and 80 wells were completed between January and September, with another 40 scheduled for the last quarter.

“Natural gas remains a cornerstone of Uzbekistan’s energy system,” Denis Borodenok of UNG Overseas, a wholly owned Uzbekneftegaz subsidiary and co-organiser of the Tashkent forum, said.

The government is also advancing deeper exploration in the Ustyurt area and steps to raise yields from current fields.

Local drilling and cross-border ties tackle separate facets of energy security: raising output and easing distribution.

Broader energy ties with Azerbaijan and Europe

The Tashkent forum also covered prospects for tighter energy connections between Central Asia, Azerbaijan and European markets.

Assylbek Jakiyev of PetroCouncil Kazakhstan noted that closer collaboration with Azerbaijan and the EU could assist Central Asian producers in growing hydrocarbon exports.

Certain partnerships are already emerging. Azerbaijan's SOCAR, Britain's BP and Uzbekneftegaz are partners in an oil and gas exploration venture in Uzbekistan's Ustyurt region.

Azerbaijan also delivers natural gas to EU countries via the Southern Gas Corridor. Shipments totalled 12.5bn cubic metres in 2025, according to the European Commission. The EU and Azerbaijan renewed their broader energy partnership in March 2026.