Kyrgyzstan Seeks Fuel Supplies From Uzbekistan to Prevent Shortages

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Kyrgyzstan has sent official requests to Uzbekistan and several other nations to ensure stable supplies of fuel and lubricants and to prevent potential fuel shortages, according to the Ministry of Energy of Kyrgyzstan.

The ministry stated that the country currently has sufficient reserves of fuel and lubricants, and deliveries are continuing in accordance with previously concluded contracts. The government remains in constant control of the supply process.

The ministry noted that because Kyrgyzstan imports the majority of its fuel and lubricants, the domestic market depends on the situation in the global energy market. Influencing factors include geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, international logistics risks, and rising global oil prices.

To maintain supply stability, official requests have been sent to the relevant authorities of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. The Kyrgyz side is simultaneously negotiating to diversify imports and expand international cooperation in the fuel sector.

In parallel, authorities intend to increase domestic production of petroleum products. Relevant issues were discussed with the Kyrgyzneftegaz company, and the Junda oil refinery has been instructed to increase the production of gasoline and other products.

The Ministry of Energy assured that work to provide the country with the necessary volumes of fuel is continuing as planned, and supply disruptions are being prevented.

However, the head of the Association of Oil Traders of Kyrgyzstan, Kanatbek Eshatov, previously reported a shortage of AI-95 and AI-98 gasoline in the domestic market. According to him, the more widely used AI-92 gasoline is being supplied in sufficient volumes, and existing reserves will last for at least one and a half months.

According to national statistics from Kyrgyzstan, imports of motor gasoline from January to April decreased by 19.8% compared to the same period last year, totaling 270.5 million liters. In monetary terms, the volume of deliveries decreased by 14.1% to US$127.2 million.

Russia remains the largest supplier of gasoline to Kyrgyzstan, accounting for approximately 98.5% of the total import volume.

During the reporting period, deliveries of Russian gasoline fell by 15.7% in natural terms.

Imports from Kazakhstan decreased nearly 11-fold, falling from 19.6 million to 1.8 million liters, while deliveries from the United Arab Emirates reached 979,800 liters compared to zero during the same period last year.