UPDATE 1-Kazakhstan to raise Central Asian gas transit fee

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ALMATY, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan plans to raise its fee for the transit of Turkmen and Uzbek gas to Russia to $1.4 per 1,000 cubic metres across 100 km from $1.1, a source in state oil and gas company Kazmunaigas said on Friday.

Russia's Gazprom (GAZP.MM) buys about 55 billion cubic metres of Central Asian gas annually and resells it mostly to Ukraine. The new fee will come into effect on April 1, the source said.

"The companies have reached a preliminary agreement and the negotiations will be carried out shortly to sign the documents," the source told Reuters.

Gas supplies from Central Asia help Gazprom, the world's largest gas producer, cover demand in the former Soviet world as well as Europe to offset stagnant output in Siberia.

Both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have raised prices for their gas this year. A spike in Turkmen gas prices has already led to a 38 percent price rise for Kiev, which is paying $179.50 per 1,000 cubic metres from the New Year. (Reporting by Maria Gordeyeva; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov, editing by Anthony Barker)