Raw materials will find a ventage: Central Asia is increasingly dependent on Russian oil

Ivan Zubov

Central Asian analytical centers have drawn attention to the increasing dependence of Central Asia on Russian energy resources, the Briefing channel reports.

As an example, experts cite the following figures: Kazakhstan has increased electricity exports from Russia amid problems of electricity shortage. Tajikistan receives 97% of petroleum products at a discounted price from Russia. In 2022, Tajikistan imported 853 thousand tons of petroleum products. Of these, the republic receives 830 thousand tons (97.3%) from Russia without paying export duties.

Against the background of problems in the fuel supply infrastructure, Uzbekistan is experiencing a crisis. It is solved by the Russian Rosneft with the help of gasoline and diesel fuel supplies.

"Unexpected problems with energy resources increase the dependence of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan on Russia. In addition, Russia has begun to push Turkmenistan hard, limiting the growth of Turkey's influence and the use of Turkmen gas for supplies to Europe through Azerbaijan and Turkey, analysts conclude. - Russia is trying to keep Armenia and part of Nagorno-Karabakh in its control zone as much as possible in order to prevent the construction of a gas pipeline from Turkmenistan through Azerbaijan to Turkey. The Kremlin is ready to consider the option of a gas pipeline through Iran in order to strengthen the manipulation of Europe and Turkey.

Probably, the Kremlin has chosen Central Asia and Transcaucasia as the tools of a new round of "raw weapons", just as it used Ukraine and Europe before".