Kyrgyzstan has requested stable fuel supplies from seven countries, including Uzbekistan, as authorities seek to diversify imports and strengthen energy security amid geopolitical tensions, rising global oil prices, and growing logistical risks affecting international fuel markets.
According to Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Energy, the country's Cabinet of Ministers and the ministry have sent official requests to the competent authorities of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, and another partner country to strengthen cooperation on fuel supplies.
Officials said negotiations are underway to diversify fuel imports and expand international energy cooperation.
"Kyrgyzstan imports the majority of its fuel and lubricants. Therefore, developments in the global energy market, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, international logistics risks, and rising world oil prices, are affecting the country's domestic fuel market, as they are in many other countries," the ministry announced.
Despite the external challenges, authorities stated that sufficient fuel reserves have been accumulated and deliveries under existing contracts continue without interruption.
The government has also instructed state-owned Kyrgyzneftegaz and the Junda oil refinery to increase domestic production of gasoline and other petroleum products to help meet internal demand.
Meanwhile, officials continue monitoring fuel prices and holding consultations with oil traders on logistics, supplies, pricing, and strategic fuel reserves.
Regional backdrop
The move comes as Russia continues to face fuel supply challenges. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged domestic fuel shortages during a meeting with government officials, while saying measures were being taken to stabilize the situation.
Belarus nearly tripled its railway gasoline exports to Russia during the first half of June compared with the same period in May, supplying more than 70,000 tons of fuel. Imports of aviation kerosene from Belarus also increased fourfold.
Russia is also planning to import around 50,000 tons of AI-92 gasoline from Kazakhstan to ease domestic shortages. The fuel deficit, initially reported in Crimea, has spread across dozens of Russian regions following Ukrainian drone strikes targeting oil infrastructure. Moscow has since imposed restrictions on gasoline and diesel exports and has begun importing gasoline from India by sea.
The regional supply pressures have also affected neighboring markets. On June 29, the price of AI-92 gasoline on Uzbekistan's commodity exchange reached a record high of UZS 13.919mn ($1,089) per ton, up 1.1% from the previous trading session. Since the beginning of June, prices have increased by UZS 1.473mn ($115), or nearly 11.8%.
