Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — A rupture in a major gas pipeline in Russia’s Penza region has not affected Russian gas supplies to Kazakhstan or transit deliveries to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry told TASS.
According to the ministry, gas supplies to Kazakhstan are continuing as normal under existing contracts and consumer requests. Russian gas transit through Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan is also proceeding at planned volumes.
The ministry added that Gazprom had not submitted any requests through dispatch channels to change the supply arrangements.
The accident occurred at around 11:00 a.m. Moscow time on 13 October near the village of Volchkovo in the Belinsky district of Penza region. According to the regional emergency department of Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, the rupture of the high-pressure gas pipeline was caused by a breach of the technological process.
The damaged pipeline caught fire, with reports indicating that flames reached approximately 70 metres in height. Grass in the surrounding area also caught fire. Preliminary information indicated that there were no deaths or injuries.
Fire and rescue units, police, medical personnel, gas service specialists and power grid technicians were dispatched to deal with the incident. According to the emergency ministry, 34 personnel and 12 vehicles were involved in the response.
Gazprom Transgaz Saratov said the rupture and subsequent fire occurred on a section of the Petrovsk–Yelets main gas pipeline. The damaged section was promptly isolated, while supplies to consumers continued through alternative routes. The company is preparing to carry out repair work.
The Central Asia–Center gas pipeline forms part of a major gas transportation system extending approximately 5,000 kilometres. It connects gas fields in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan with Russia and European consumers.
The potential impact of the accident on Uzbekistan’s gas imports had previously remained unclear. The Spot publication sent an inquiry to the press service of Uzbekistan’s Energy Ministry but had not received a response by the time of publication.
According to data for January–August 2026, the value of natural and liquefied gas imports from Russia and Turkmenistan increased by 15.2% year on year to US$1.21 billion.
Liquefied gas, including propane, accounted for US$124.3 million of the total, 3.5 times the figure recorded in the same period a year earlier.
In August, the combined value of natural and liquefied gas imports reached US$206.1 million, following a decline to US$38.3 million in July.
