Bukhara-Tashkent-Bishkek-Almaty Gas Pipeline

This article is part of the Global Fossil Infrastructure Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor.

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Bukhara-Tashkent-Bishkek-Almaty Gas Pipeline (Russian: БГР-ТБА (Бухарский газоносный район-Ташкент-Бишкек-Алматы) is an operating gas pipeline running from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan, passing through Kyrgyzstan.

Location

The pipeline runs from Bukhara, Uzbekistan through Tashkent, Shymkent, Taraz and Bishkek to Almaty, Kazakhstan.

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Kazakh-Kyrgyz Border- Sokuluk Expansion Project

The pipeline runs from the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border near the Chüy metering station, Chüy Region, to the Sokuluk compressor station, Chüy Region, Kyrgyzstan.

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Project Details

Bukhara-Tashkent-Bishkek-Almaty I Gas Pipeline

• Operator: Uztransgas JSC, Intergas Central Asia, Gazprom Kyrgyzstan
• Owner: Uztransgas, QazaqGaz, Gazprom
• Parent Company: Uzbekneftegaz JSC (46.78%), Ministry of Economics and Finance of Uzbekistan (51.7%); Samruk-Kazyna SWF JSC; Government of Russia
• Capacity: 12 bcm/year (total for the pipeline)
• Length: 1585 km
• Diameter: 700, 720, 820, 1000, 1020 mm
• Status: Operating
• Construction year: 1961
• Start Year: 1971
• Cost:
• Financing:
• Associated infrastructure: Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline, Gazli-Shymkent Gas Pipeline, Gazli Gas Field, Gazli-Kagan Gas Pipeline

Bukhara-Tashkent-Bishkek-Almaty II Gas Pipeline

• Operator: Uztransgas JSC, Intergas Central Asia, Gazprom Kyrgyzstan
• Owner: Uztransgas, QazaqGaz, Gazprom
• Parent Company: Uzbekneftegaz JSC (46.78%), Ministry of Economics and Finance of Uzbekistan (51.7%); Samruk-Kazyna SWF JSC; Government of Russia
• Capacity: 12 bcm/year (total for the pipeline)
• Length: 1585 km
• Diameter: 700, 1015 mm
• Status: Operating
• Start Year: 1999
• Cost:
• Financing:
• Associated infrastructure: Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline, Gazli-Shymkent Gas Pipeline, Gazli Gas Field, Gazli-Kagan Gas Pipeline

Mubarek-Zirabulak I, II and III Gas Pipelines

• Operator: Uztransgas JSC
• Owner: Uztransgas JSC
• Parent Company: Uzbekneftegaz JSC (46.78%), Ministry of Economics and Finance of Uzbekistan (51.7%)
• Capacity:
• Length:
• Diameter: 1,020 mm
• Status: Operating
• Start Year:
• Cost:
• Financing:
• Associated infrastructure: Kelif-Mubarek Gas Pipeline, Mubarek Oil Field

Background

The Bukhara–Tashkent–Bishkek–Almaty pipeline is Uzbekistan's main natural gas export pipeline. Construction of the pipeline started in 1967. In 1968, the pipeline reached to Tashkent, in 1970 to Bishkek (then Frunze) and in 1971 to Almaty. The pipeline connects to the Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline near Akbulak, Akyrtobe, and Uzynagash in Kazakhstan and to the Gazli-Shymkent Gas Pipeline in Shymkent, Kazakhstan.

The pipeline was first built in 1971 and has been worn out since. KazTransGas JSC (QazaqGaz since 2021) and Gazprom Kyrgyzstan conducted construction of a new branch of the pipeline in Kyrgyzstan to increase the capacity, from the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border to the compressor station "Sokuluk", completed in 2017.

The Mubarek-Zirabulak segment of the pipeline in Uzbekistan has three parallel branches and was also built during the Soviet period. Epsilon Development Company (USA) conducted a major overhaul of the pipeline in Uzbekistan in 2020.

As of 2012, a gas swap agreement was in effect between Russian Gazprom and Kazakh Kazmunaygas. Gazprom would purchase gas in Uzbekistan and deliver it to South Kazakhstan. In return, Kazmunaygas delivers gas from Karachaganak field at the same volume and at the same price.

Route

The pipeline runs from Bukhara, Uzbekistan through Tashkent, Shymkent, Taraz and Bishkek to Almaty, Kazakhstan. According to the map of the gas transmission system of Uzbekistan, the pipeline connects to Mubarek via Mubarek-Kagan Gas Pipeline and to Gazli via Gazli-Kagan Gas Pipeline.

Environment and social impacts

There was a gas leak due to corrosion of the pipeline at the four hundred first kilometer in 2012. The gas supply continued despite the leak.