Kyrgyzstan seeks fuel supplies from Uzbekistan and five other countries amid market pressures

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy noted that fuel deliveries under existing contracts continue as scheduled. However, because Kyrgyzstan relies heavily on imported petroleum products, the country remains exposed to external shocks, including rising global oil prices, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and disruptions to international logistics.

To strengthen supply security, Bishkek has sent official requests to the governments of Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. At the same time, officials are negotiating new supply arrangements and seeking to diversify import routes to reduce dependence on a limited number of suppliers.

The government is also looking to increase domestic production. During a visit to the Kyrgyzneftegaz facilities in the Jalal-Abad region, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Erlist Akunbekov and Energy Minister Altynbek Rysbekov instructed company management to accelerate fuel production and ensure stable deliveries to the domestic market.

Separately, Presidential Special Representative Bakyt Torobaev visited the Junda oil refinery in the Chuy region, where he called for higher gasoline output to help meet local demand.

The developments come as fuel markets across the region face growing pressure. In neighboring Uzbekistan, wholesale prices for AI-92 gasoline recently climbed to a record high on the Uzbek Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange.

On June 29, AI-92 traded at UZS 13.92 million per ton, up nearly 12% from the beginning of the month. The sharpest increase came during the first week of June, when prices jumped more than 10% in just four days.

Analysts have linked the rise to tightening fuel supplies in Russia, where several refineries have undergone unscheduled maintenance following Ukrainian drone attacks. Russia also introduced a temporary ban on gasoline exports on April 1 to stabilize its domestic market. While fuel deliveries under bilateral intergovernmental agreements remain exempt from the restrictions, the tighter regional supply has nevertheless contributed to upward pressure on fuel prices across Central Asia.