Kyrgyzstan to Send Petroleum Products to Uzbekistan for Refining
Kyrgyzstan intends to supply raw petroleum products to neighbouring Uzbekistan for refining as part of a bilateral mechanism to secure domestic fuel reserves.
According to the Kaktus Media news outlet, Kyrgyz official Altynbek Rysbekov confirmed that negotiations between the heads of government and energy ministers of both nations have concluded. The two sides have established the specific positions and logistical frameworks required for the cross-border processing arrangement.
Under the agreement, Uzbekistan will refine the raw materials and export the finished fuel back to Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek also plans to boost domestic output of fuels and lubricants at its Junda enterprise.
The deal follows a period of regional market pressure. In July, Kyrgyz authorities suspended petrol and diesel exports to stabilise domestic supplies. The government only permits the outward shipment of naphtha, fuel oil and heating oil under strict conditions requiring the processed goods to return to Kyrgyzstan. Before securing these recent agreements, Bishkek had appealed to Uzbekistan and other Central Asian neighbours for assistance in maintaining fuel deliveries.
To further bridge the supply gap, Belarus and China have commenced fuel shipments to the republic while Astana and Bishkek recently finalised agreements for fuel oil deliveries.
Production output and regional pricing
Both nations have increased domestic refining volumes this year. During the first half of the year, Kyrgyz enterprises produced 130,000 tonnes of petrol and 127,000 tonnes of diesel, representing year-on-year increases of 61,000 tonnes and 60,000 tonnes respectively. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan manufactured 502,200 tonnes of petrol and 476,400 tonnes of diesel during the same period, marking annual growth rates of 1.9% and 7.8%.
Fuel costs remain largely comparable across the two capitals. As of July 20, the retail price for domestically produced AI-92 petrol in Tashkent started at 11,400 soums per litre with imported variants priced from 13,000 soums. Diesel began at 12,800 soums and AI-95 at 14,500 soums.
In Bishkek, AI-92 petrol prices started at 82.20 soms, equivalent to approximately 11,300 soums. AI-95 was priced from 97.90 soms and diesel from 96.80 soms.
