Russia doubles gas exports to Afghanistan

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
17 Dec 2023 16:37
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Afghanistan has doubled its imports of Russian liquefied petrol gas (LPG), used for heating appliances and vehicles, while Russia's energy industry expands into markets away from the EU.

A Russian construction worker smokes in Portovaya Bay some 170 km (106 miles) north-west from St. Petersburg, Russia, on April 9, 2010, during a ceremony marking the start of Nord Stream pipeline construction. (AP)

Reuters reported that since the start of the year, Afghanistan has doubled its imports of Russian liquefied petrol gas (LPG), used for heat appliances and vehicles, while Russia's energy industry expands into markets beyond and away from the EU.

Specifically, Russia exported 176,000 tons of LPG to Afghanistan between January and November, which accounts for more than double the quantity they supplied over the same timeframe last year.

Last year, Afghanistan signed an import deal with Moscow, containing gas, diesel, gasoline, and wheat supplies, making it the first major international accord the Taliban struck since they held office back in 2021. Part of the deal included Russia providing Afghanistan with discounts to attenuate the costs of global commodity prices.

It is worth noting that Russia has not formally recognized the Taliban as representatives of the official government of Afghanistan, but both parties have established multiple business deals over the past few years.

In the initial 11 months of the year, the total volume of Russian LPG exports to Central Asia saw a twofold increase compared to the corresponding period in 2022, reaching 390,100 tons. Approximately 50% of the LPG shipments originated from the gas processing facility located in the southwestern city of Orenburg, situated near the Kazakhstan border.

Russia sees growth despite sanctions

At the beginning of 2023, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak highlighted that the country's oil and gas revenues increased by 28%, amounting to 2.5 trillion rubles ($36.7 billion), despite sanctions imposed on it by the West.

Novak noted that in 2022, Russia's oil production increased by 2% reaching 535 million tonnes, while overall exports rose by 7%.

According to Novak, the coal industry witnessed an increase in production by 0.3%, despite the European embargo on Russian supplies, noting that 442 million tonnes of coal were produced in 2022.

The Russian Deputy PM also pointed out that Russia's Liquefied natural gas (LNG) production grew by 8% last year, reaching 46 billion cubic meters, and noted a rise of diesel and gasoline production by 6% and 4.3% respectively.