Uzbekistan Could Supply Up to 20,000 Tonnes of Fuel to Kyrgyzstan
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has the capacity to supply Kyrgyzstan with up to 20,000 tonnes of fuel per month, Kyrgyz Prime Minister and Head of the Presidential Administration Adylbek Kasymaliev said in a podcast published by the state news agency Kabar.
Kasymaliev said the issue was discussed during talks with Uzbekistan's Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov. Kyrgyzstan, which imports more than 90% of its fuel, is seeking new suppliers as global fuel prices rise and previous procurement opportunities from Russia become more limited.
"We also held talks with Uzbekistan's prime minister. They have the capacity to supply 20,000 tonnes of fuel per month," Kasymaliev said.
He added that Kyrgyzstan is also negotiating petroleum product supplies with Russia, Belarus, China, Azerbaijan, European countries and Türkiye.
According to Kasymaliev, Belarus is already supplying fuel to Kyrgyzstan. The first five road tankers carrying petroleum products have arrived from China, although expanding supplies will require the establishment of rail transportation. Negotiations with Azerbaijan are also continuing.
He said fuel imports from Europe and Türkiye are constrained by transit difficulties as well as rising petroleum product prices and transportation costs.
Kasymaliev said the Kyrgyz government subsidizes diesel fuel, AI-92 gasoline and automotive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to contain price increases. At the same time, he warned that fuel prices in the country would gradually rise.
He also said diesel fuel and AI-92 gasoline currently cost 20 to 25 soms less in Kyrgyzstan than in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, with the difference covered by the state budget.
As previously reported, Kyrgyzstan approached Uzbekistan, Russia, Kazakhstan and other countries in early July to help maintain stable fuel supplies. At the time, the country's Ministry of Energy said petroleum product reserves were sufficient while noting the impact of developments in the global market.
