Latest - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 7 - 12 of 13491

Kyrgyzstan Extends Fuel Subsidies Amid Russian Supply Disruptions

Kyrgyzstan has extended subsidies for fuel importers through the end of 2026. Bishkek is trying to contain prices at the pump as problems in the Russian fuel market push traders to seek supplies elsewhere and make domestic refining more important. On August 26, the Cabinet of Ministers extended a temporary fuel subsidy scheme through December 31.Under the scheme, the state covers part of eligible importers’ fuel and transportation costs when the total exceeds a fixed threshold. The government also raised those fixed prices: from $860 to $960 per metric ton for AI-92 gasoline, from $950 to $1,050 for diesel, and from $575 to $650 for automotive liquefied petroleum gas. The change means importers must now absorb more of the cost themselves before receiving a subsidy. AI-92 is a lower-octane gasoline broadly comparable to regular fuel in the United States. AI-95, closer to the standard unleaded gasoline sold across much of Europe, was included in the original subsidy mechanism introduced in late May, but has now been removed from both the subsidy program and temporary price regulation. The extension keeps government support in place for another three months. On August 25, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev said the government had allocated 956.1 million soms, or about $11.4 million, in subsidies to companies importing petroleum products. Kyrgyzstan receives more than 90% of its imported fuel from Russia, where Ukrainian drone attacks and refinery outages have reduced available supplies. Shortages have also emerged on the Russian domestic market, prompting Moscow to tighten restrictions on fuel exports, although supplies under intergovernmental agreements, including Russia’s agreement with Kyrgyzstan, are exempt. On August 25, Reuters, citing three industry sources, reported that Russia was set to extend its ban on diesel exports by producers through September as shortages persisted and several refineries remained idle following repeated Ukrainian drone attacks. Kyrgyzstan felt the effects relatively quickly. Gasoline and diesel prices rose, while some filling stations experienced shortages of AI-95 gasoline, even as the more widely used AI-92 remained available. Fuel traders have already begun buying from farther afield. China is emerging as an alternative source of supply. After talks with Sinopec, a Kyrgyz delegation met with state-owned CNPC on August 19. The discussions focused on procedures for supplying petroleum products to Kyrgyzstan through CNPC-affiliated Kunlun Logistics. Following the talks, Kyrgyz companies signed contracts with CNPC for petroleum product supplies, although volumes, prices, and delivery schedules were not publicly disclosed. The fuel squeeze has also made an existing effort to refine more oil domestically more important. The modernization of the Junda refinery is not a new response to the current shortages: the $193.75 million project was already underway earlier this year and had previously been scheduled for completion by July 31. On August 25, the National Investment Agency signed an additional agreement with Central Asia Energy Company allowing the next stage of modernization of the Junda refinery in Kara-Balta, the country’s largest, to begin. The latest announcement did not give a new completion date. The project...

Home Kyrgyzstan Lead Story Lead Story Uzbekistan Tajikistan International Affairs International Affairs Tajikistan Uzbekistan Features Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan International Affairs Kazakhstan Kazakhstan International Affairs Tajikistan Features Uzbekistan International Affairs Kazakhstan Featurees

Xi Jinping Heads to Bishkek as Kyrgyzstan Prepares to Host 21 Heads of State

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Bishkek and make a state visit to Kyrgyzstan, Beijing has confirmed. The trip, which also includes a state visit to Egypt, will run from August 30 to September 3. The formal meeting of the SCO Council of Heads of State is scheduled for September 1. As many as 21 heads of state are expected in Kyrgyzstan during the week, according to presidential spokesman Askat Alagozov. Xi had long been expected to be among the leaders traveling to the Kyrgyz capital, but the formal confirmation turns attention from the guest list to the business that may be conducted around the main session. For Kyrgyzstan, the most consequential part of the visit may come in Xi's talks with President Sadyr Japarov rather than in the summit hall. The Times of Central Asia will be reporting from Bishkek as the delegations arrive, and from the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games on August 31. Several visiting heads of state are expected to attend the ceremony, which will bring summit diplomacy and Kyrgyzstan’s biggest cultural showcase together on the eve of the SCO meeting. Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has already confirmed that he will be there. The spectacle will be considerable, but the substance is likely to emerge in the bilateral meetings, signed agreements, and final documents released around the September 1 summit. The State Visit and the Railway The state visit format gives Xi and Japarov a bilateral program alongside the summit. The most prominent economic issue is likely to be the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, a project discussed for decades that is now under construction across some of Kyrgyzstan's most difficult terrain. The Kyrgyz authorities put the railway’s construction cost at about $4.7 billion. China holds 51% of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Company LLC, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each hold 24.5%. Roughly half of the cost is being financed through a 35-year Chinese loan to the company. The summit could bring clearer evidence of how quickly construction is progressing. Any new financing, contracts, or cross-border arrangements would be more significant than another general statement of political support. The railway also places Kyrgyzstan inside a larger shift in regional trade. Commerce between China and the five Central Asian states passed $100 billion in 2025. Bishkek wants a larger share of that traffic and more of the value created along transit routes. Xi's visit offers Japarov an opportunity to press the case for logistics hubs, local employment and supporting roads rather than transit alone. The Documents Behind the Ceremony The SCO's national coordinators have been finalizing the outcome documents in the weeks leading up to the summit. Under Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship, the SCO has emphasized regional stability and economic cooperation, alongside digital transformation, cyber threats, environmental policy, and cultural exchange. SCO decisions require consensus, which tends to soften disagreements in final communiqués. Any agreements that specify funding, deadlines, or responsibility would give the Bishkek package more weight. Bilateral Meetings Around the Summit The summit will bring...

International Affairs Business & Economy Features

Russia Fuel Crisis Pushes Central Asia to Seek Alternatives

Disruptions at Russian oil refineries are beginning to reshape Central Asia’s established fuel supply routes. Kyrgyzstan is arranging supplies from China; Tajikistan has requested large volumes of crude oil and fuel from Iran, while Kazakhstan plans to more than double its refining capacity and eventually sell more petroleum products to its neighbors. Kyrgyzstan: The China Route Becomes a Real Option Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have felt the impact of Russia’s disruptions more acutely than other Central Asian countries. Both have limited domestic oil production and depend heavily on imported fuel. Galiya Ibragimova, a Central Asia expert with Carnegie Politika, told Al Jazeera that the two countries had been hit hardest in the region and said the search for new suppliers would continue, although alternative fuel would most likely be more expensive. For Kyrgyzstan, the Russian supply model had long been the most convenient. As a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kyrgyzstan can import agreed quantities of Russian fuel duty-free each year. For 2026, Moscow has agreed to supply around 1.5 million tonnes – roughly equivalent to Kyrgyzstan’s total annual demand for petroleum products. More than 90% of Kyrgyzstan's imported fuel comes from Russia. This summer, that system began to falter. On August 12, Kanatbek Eshatov, head of Kyrgyzstan’s Oil Traders Association, said Russian refineries were offering virtually no additional volumes. Fuel was already arriving from Belarus, Azerbaijan, Turkey, one European country, and other markets. Eshatov did not expect the situation with Russian supplies to improve before October. Bishkek has also negotiated directly with China’s largest oil companies. Following talks with Sinopec, a Kyrgyz delegation met CNPC management on August 19. Kyrgyz companies signed contracts with CNPC for petroleum product supplies through Kunlun Logistics, according to Kyrgyz state news agency Kabar. Volumes and prices have not been disclosed. China is unlikely to displace Russia quickly on price. There is no direct rail connection between China and Kyrgyzstan, while road transport across the mountainous border is more expensive. But direct contacts with Sinopec and CNPC are giving Kyrgyz traders a supply channel that until recently was barely used. Another option is to refine more oil domestically. The country’s largest refinery, Junda in Kara-Balta, is moving to the next stage of a modernization project valued at $193.75 million. The plant is expected to increase petroleum product output and move to Euro 5 fuel standards. Kyrgyzstan does not produce enough crude to keep the refinery running at capacity, however, so it would still need to import much of the oil it refines. Bishkek is therefore keeping Russian finished fuel [bit technical] in the mix while purchasing petroleum products from other markets. It is also looking to refine imported crude domestically. Tajikistan: Iranian Crude Rather Than Just Another Gasoline Supplier Dushanbe has chosen a larger-scale option. During talks with Iran, Tajikistan requested 2.55 million tonnes of crude oil and petroleum products: 2 million tonnes of crude, 300,000 tonnes of diesel, 150,000 tonnes of gasoline, and 100,000 tonnes of jet fuel. Tajikistan’s Transport Ministry announced the...

Home Business & Economy Kazakhstan Kazakhstan Business & Economy Features Kazakhstan Featurees

Kazakhstan Forecasts GDP Growth Above 5% in 2027–2029

Kazakhstan’s government has approved a socioeconomic development forecast and draft republican budget for 2027–2029, projecting average annual real GDP growth above 5% as manufacturing, agriculture, construction, transport, and other non-oil sectors expand. The forecast was prepared with reference to the global economic outlook and conditions in external markets. The accompanying draft budget, approved at the same government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, will be submitted to the Kurultai for consideration. Under the government’s baseline scenario, real GDP is projected to grow by 5.3% in 2027, 5.5% in 2028, and 5.4% in 2029. Nominal GDP is expected to rise from KZT 199.3 trillion in 2027 to KZT 245 trillion in 2029, an increase of almost 23%. Non-oil sectors are expected to provide the main impetus for expansion. Manufacturing output is forecast to grow by an average of 5.9% a year, substantially faster than the 2% projected for mining. Metallurgy, mechanical engineering, construction materials, chemicals, and food production are expected to make the largest contributions. Oil exports and the broader mining sector will remain central to the economy and public finances, but the forecast assumes that manufacturing and other non-oil activities will account for a larger share of new output. TCA reported in July that Kazakhstan’s economy expanded by 4.1% in the first half of 2026 despite an 8.4% decline in oil production. The non-oil economy grew by more than 5%, with manufacturing, construction, trade, and transport accounting for more than 80% of overall growth. Manufacturing output increased by 9.8%. Agriculture is expected to expand by at least 5% annually. Construction is projected to remain among the fastest-growing sectors, increasing by 16% in 2027 and 17.3% in 2029. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin said the expansion would be supported by transport and logistics, energy, and water projects, together with the modernization of housing, utilities, and social infrastructure. The services sector is also expected to maintain strong momentum. Trade is forecast to expand by an average of 5.7% annually, information and communications by 9.2%, and transport and warehousing by 10.4%. The transport forecast builds on rapid expansion along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or Middle Corridor. Annual freight volumes through Kazakhstan have risen from 0.8 million to 4.5 million tons over seven years, while delivery times fell from approximately 28–32 days to 13–17 days. The route still carries substantially less cargo than established northern corridors, and participating countries continue to work on remaining bottlenecks. Infrastructure spending is a central element of the draft budget, but Bektenov said it must be accompanied by stronger financial discipline. Under President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s instructions, accelerated construction of infrastructure and social facilities has been designated as a principal budget priority. Government bodies were told to meet the approved economic targets, while administrators of budget programs were directed to increase the return on every tenge spent. The headline budget deficit is forecast to fall from 2.3% of GDP in 2027 to just 0.4% in 2029. However, the non-oil deficit, which measures the...

Business & Economy Home Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy Kyrgyzstan Features

Kyrgyzstan Advances Junda Refinery Modernization Amid Fuel Supply Strain

Kyrgyzstan’s largest oil refinery, Junda in Kara-Balta, is moving to the next stage of a modernization project worth nearly $194 million. The project has taken on added significance amid problems with fuel supplies from Russia, on which Kyrgyzstan remains heavily dependent. On August 25, Ravshanbek Sabirov, head of the National Investment Agency, signed an additional agreement with China’s Central Asia Energy Company. The document allows the next stage of the Junda modernization project to begin. Once upgraded, the refinery is expected to increase petroleum output and produce fuel meeting Euro 5 standards. The official announcement confirms the start of the new phase but does not specify its individual cost. Junda, also known as Zhongda, is located in Kara-Balta, about 60 kilometers west of Bishkek. The refinery is operated by the Kyrgyzstan-registered China Petrol Company Junda, which is 99% owned by China’s Central Asia Energy Company. The remaining 1% is held by Kyrgyzstan-registered Dade Service Company. The refinery, with an annual crude-processing capacity of 800,000 tons, began operating in 2014. Production halted in early 2020, and the plant remained idle for about four years. Before the shutdown, residents of Kara-Balta had repeatedly complained about air pollution and unpleasant odors from the facility. The shutdown lasted about four years, with production resuming in 2024. A new modernization program followed. A 2024 investment agreement initially put the cost of repairs and modernization at $160 million, while the company later cited an investment of more than $167 million. An additional agreement subsequently raised the project figure to $193.75 million. The refinery’s stated processing capacity remains 800,000 tons per year. The project’s timeline, however, remains unclear. An earlier supplementary agreement called for the modernization to be completed by July 31, 2026. That deadline has already passed, yet on August 25 the parties signed another agreement allowing the next phase to begin. The National Investment Agency has not explained whether the original deadline has formally been extended. President Sadyr Japarov has previously given a different target – 2028. He also said the Chinese side had allocated about $500 million for Junda, substantially more than the $193.75 million cited in the investment agreement. It is unclear whether the two figures refer to different stages or scopes of work. Japarov has also spoken about modernizing another refinery, Kyrgyz Petroleum Company in Manas, the city formerly known as Jalal-Abad. For Kyrgyzstan, the issue is not only fuel quality. Deputy Energy Minister Nasipbek Kerimov said in July that Kyrgyzstan consumes around 2 million tons of fuel and lubricants annually and that almost 95% has traditionally come from Russia. More recent government figures put average annual demand at more than 1.5 million tons, while Japarov has said Russia currently accounts for about 90% of consumption. That dependence has become particularly visible this summer. Disruptions at Russian refineries and reduced volumes available for export have pushed prices higher. Ukrainian drone strikes, refinery outages, and strong domestic demand have contributed to fuel shortages in Russia and restrictions on exports to some markets. Rising fuel...

Home Turkmenistan Life & Culture Life & Culture Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan’s Allayar Shirliev Wins Abu Dhabi Chess Tournament

Allayar Shirliev was a conscripted soldier when he became Turkmenistan’s national chess champion in 2024 and has said he wants to break the world record for playing the most games simultaneously while blindfolded. The 22-year-old Turkmen player has now won a chess tournament in the United Arab Emirates, the Turkmenportal platform and other media reported. Shirliev won the Open A tournament at the 32nd International Chess Festival in Abu Dhabi, which was held from August 15 to August 24. The Open A category is for players with a rating of 2299 and below under the rules of FIDE, the international governing body of chess. The top ten players in the world all have ratings above 2750. Shirliev, whose chess title is candidate master, entered the Abu Dhabi tournament with a classical chess rating of 2184, and his victory is expected to raise his rating by about 40 points when FIDE publishes new figures. He won eight out of a possible nine points in the competition, drawing with two players who have the more advanced international master title, Bashir Eiti of Syria and Richilieu III Salcedo of the Philippines. In a separate category, Uzbek grandmaster Jakhongir Vakhidov won the masters tournament for players with a rating of 2,300 and above in Abu Dhabi. Next month, Uzbekistan will host the FIDE Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, fielding a team led by Javokhir Sindarov, winner of the FIDE Candidates Tournament in April. Born in Ashgabat, Shirliev is eager to push his limits. In April 2021, he played 25 games simultaneously while blindfolded and was planning another 30-game event, state media in Turkmenistan reported. Then, in July of that year, he played 40 games blindfolded, according to the InAshgabat news site. The world record for simultaneous games while blindfolded is held by Uzbek-born Timur Gareyev, according to Guinness World Records. He played 48 games at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas in 2016. He won 35 games, drew seven, and lost six. Hungarian grandmaster János Flesch played 52 opponents simultaneously while blindfolded in Budapest in 1960. But the performance wasn’t recognized as a world record.