CHINA is calling on Kazakhstan to respect natural gas supply contracts between the two countries ahead of an anticipated surge in demand during the upcoming winter. Chinese concerns over supplies were sparked by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's demand in June that the country's domestic gas supply should increase by 2 billion cubic metres per annum at the expense of exports, which would be likely to have a serious impact on gas supplies to China. In a recent televised meeting, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang urged Kazakhstan Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov to increase gas supplies to China during winter. "We hope that Kazakhstan, in accordance with the contract, will ensure stable gas supplies to China and maximise them in winter," Li said. However, Chinese concerns over the Kazakh supplies were highlighted by Smailov's response, which failed to address Li's concerns directly and instead focused on intergovernmental economic and trade plans, and strengthening communications and co-operation. Tokayev demanded an increase in domestic gas supplies after claiming that, by 2024, Kazakhstan will face a domestic gas supply deficit of 1.7 Bcm. In the same month that Tokayev issued his demand, Kazakhstan national gas company QazaqGaz's chief executive Sanzhar Zharkeshov said the country may have to halts exports of gas in 2023 unless urgent measures are taken. Kazakhstan has been reducing gas supplies to China over the past two years, in part due to the increase in domestic demand, with export volumes dropping to 6 Bcm last year out of a contractual volume of 10 Bcm.
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