Kazakhstan and Russian energy giant Gazprom have signed an addendum to their gas supply contract and plan to begin discussions on a long-term agreement by the end of the year.

"The negotiations with Gazprom have made significant progress," Kazakh Deputy Energy Minister Kaiyrkhan Tutkyshbayev said on the sidelines of the TNF-2026 International Industrial and Energy Forum, according to TASS.

“We have made very good progress in negotiations with Gazprom. I flew in from St. Petersburg the day before yesterday. We signed an addendum to the contract. Therefore, by the end of the year, I think we will already be discussing a long-term contract. We are currently waiting for our infrastructure projects,” Tutkyshbayev said.

He also described Russia as a strategic partner for Kazakhstan and said there were no problems in bilateral gas cooperation.

“We have no problems with gas issues,” the deputy minister added.

He noted that Kazakhstan will purchase around 11 billion cubic meters of gas from Gazprom in 2026, up from 4 billion cubic meters a year earlier. For 2027, the two sides are discussing supplies of around 9 billion cubic meters.

“This year, we had some minor technical disruptions at our major fields. Last year, we purchased 4 billion cubic meters; this year, it is 11 billion. For next year, we are discussing around 9 billion,” Tutkyshbayev added.

Earlier, Gazprom and the Kazakh government have signed a memorandum of intent to build a major natural gas pipeline linking the two countries, as Kazakhstan seeks to strengthen energy cooperation with Russia and meet rising domestic demand.

The agreement was finalized at the 14th St. Petersburg International Gas Forum (SPIGF) during a meeting between Gazprom Chairman Alexey Miller and Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar.

According to Gazprom, the memorandum provides a framework for constructing a main gas pipeline from Russia to Kazakhstan, with an initial annual transport capacity of 10 billion cubic meters.

The project has already been incorporated into Russia’s federal transport infrastructure plans following a decree signed by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. The planned pipeline would run through several municipalities in Russia’s Tyumen region, which borders Kazakhstan’s North Kazakhstan region.

The two sides also signed a separate document outlining the long-term processing of Kazakh gas at the modernized Orenburg Gas Processing Plant in Russia. The facility is expected to process gas from Kazakhstan’s Karachaganak field, further expanding energy cooperation between the neighboring countries.

The talks come as Kazakhstan works to improve gas supplies to its northern and northeastern regions, which remain less connected to the country’s national gas grid.

Kazakhstan has been considering several supply options, including potential new routes from Russia to major cities such as Semey and Ust-Kamenogorsk.

The countries are also examining a much larger gas infrastructure project that could eventually transport up to 45 billion cubic meters annually.

Under the long-term concept, around 10 billion cubic meters would be allocated to domestic gasification in Kazakhstan, while the remaining 35 billion cubic meters could be supplied to China.