Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy and Gazprom have held a meeting of the Joint Coordinating Council (JCC) focused on expanding bilateral cooperation in the gas sector.

The meeting was attended by Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Energy Kaiyrkhan Tutkyshbayev, Gazprom Deputy Chairman Vitaly Markelov, as well as senior representatives of national gas company QazaqGaz and Gazprom, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Key agenda items included the future work of the Joint Working Group on gas transportation system development, cooperation on underground gas storage, technological advancement, and joint scientific and technical projects. The discussions build on previously reached agreements between the two sides.

Cooperation is progressing against the backdrop of a memorandum signed on October 8 last year during the St. Petersburg International Gas Forum, under which Gazprom and the Government of Kazakhstan agreed to implement a project to gasify Kokshetau and Petropavlovsk by expanding the Saryarka gas pipeline from Astana to Petropavlovsk.

Participants noted that establishing the Joint Coordinating Council is a timely step reflecting the mutual interest of Kazakhstan and Russia in deepening gas-sector cooperation. The Council is expected to become a permanent platform for coordination, dialogue, and joint decision-making aimed at strengthening partnership ties and enhancing regional energy security.

Following the meeting, the parties signed a Work Plan for the JCC’s working groups for 2026-2027.