Fuel Supply - The Times Of Central Asia

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Fuel Supply

Kyrgyzstan Looks Beyond Russia as Fuel Squeeze Hits Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan has asked Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to help secure its fuel supplies as shortages inside Russia put new strain on Central Asia's fuel market. The move follows reduced Russian refining capacity after Ukrainian drone strikes on oil refineries, seasonal demand, and tighter export controls. “Due to the lack of adequate oil and gas production, we remain a country dependent on imports,” Deputy Energy Minister Nasipbek Kerimov told Birinchi Radio. “Kyrgyzstan annually consumes approximately 2 million tons of various types of fuel and lubricants, and almost 95% of this volume comes from Russia.” The dependence rests on long-standing trade terms; Russia supplies oil products to Kyrgyzstan duty-free under annual indicative balances within the Eurasian Economic Union. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said in October 2025 that balances for 2026 had already been signed. The system has helped hold down prices, but it also leaves the market exposed when Russian refineries or export rules change. Kyrgyz officials have tried to calm consumers. The Energy Ministry said fuel reserves were sufficient, supplies were moving under existing contracts, and that “official requests have been sent” to relevant governments to support stable supplies. Local officials also pressed Kyrgyzneftegaz and the Junda refinery to increase domestic production and deliveries. The pressure is not equal across all fuel types. AI-95 and AI-98 gasoline have disappeared from some filling stations, while AI-92 reserves remain stronger. Oil Traders Association head Kanatbek Eshatov told Kaktus.media that AI-92 stocks would last 30 to 45 days, depending on the company. He said the AI-95 problem could be solved “in a couple of weeks, if refineries recover after the shelling.” Diesel remains available, and farmers had stocked up before harvest work began, he added. As of July 6, AI-95 remained unavailable at some Bishkek filling stations. Bishkek has also moved on prices, with the Cabinet introducing temporary price regulation under Resolution No. 369 of May 25, 2026. The system subsidizes importers and sellers until September 30 by compensating the gap between market prices and fixed benchmark import prices. In Bishkek, capped pump prices are 79.9 soms per liter for AI-92 gasoline, 88.9 soms for AI-95 and 93.9 soms for diesel, equal to about $3.46, $3.85 and $4.06 per U.S. gallon. The state is using subsidies to prevent a sharper jump at the pump. Kerimov said prices would stay unchanged while talks continued with suppliers. “We are currently offered fuel at various prices,” he said, and even if purchase prices rise, “there should be no shortage on the domestic market.” President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on June 28 that fuel shortages inside Russia had created queues at filling stations. “Problems for drivers and for businesses persist,” he said, adding that “the harvest depends on” keeping seasonal fuel schedules for farms. Russian officials said gasoline reserves stood at 1.7 million metric tons, but Moscow was considering a complete ban on diesel exports. Russia had already imposed temporary restrictions on gasoline exports, with exemptions for some intergovernmental arrangements. Reuters reported on June...

Fuel prices

AI-92 Gasoline Price in Uzbekistan Hits Record High Amid Regional Fuel Pressures

The price of AI-92 gasoline on Uzbekistan’s Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange has reached a record high, according to exchange data reviewed by Uzbek business outlet Spot. On June 29, the exchange price for one metric ton of AI-92 gasoline climbed to 13.919 million UZS, approximately $1,160, up 1.1% from the previous trading session and the highest level ever recorded. Since the beginning of June, the fuel price has risen by 11.8%, or nearly 1.5 million UZS, approximately $125 per ton. Spot reported that the sharpest increase came during the first week of the month. Between June 4 and June 8, the price jumped from 12.476 million UZS, approximately $1,040, to 13.788 million UZS, approximately $1,149, an increase of 10.5% in just four days. Prices then remained relatively stable at around 13.7 million UZS to 13.8 million UZS, approximately $1,141-$1,150, before climbing to a new record at the end of the month. The rise in prices coincided with a sharp drop in supply on the exchange. Available volumes fell from 3,791 tons on June 1 to 1,898 tons by June 23, nearly halving over three weeks. Although supply had recovered to 3,123.2 tons by June 29, prices remained at record levels. The increase comes as Russia experiences fuel shortages linked to unplanned refinery maintenance following Ukrainian drone strikes. Several Russian oil refineries have undergone emergency repairs after the attacks, reducing fuel production and tightening supplies across the region. Russia also introduced a full ban on gasoline exports on April 1. However, the restriction does not apply to deliveries made under intergovernmental agreements, meaning fuel exports to Uzbekistan are not directly affected. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Russia has discussed importing about 50,000 metric tons of AI-92 gasoline from Kazakhstan after refinery outages cut gasoline production by roughly 25% year-on-year by late June. The talks marked an unusual step for Russia, traditionally one of the region’s main fuel exporters.

Fuel Supply

Kyrgyzstan Seeks Alternative Fuel Suppliers as Russian Export Restrictions Hit

Russia’s restrictions on fuel exports are expected to put pressure on Kyrgyzstan, which remains heavily dependent on Russian petroleum supplies, First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar Amangeldiev has said. Amangeldiev told 24.kg that the government had already moved to extend the existing duty-free fuel import mechanism in order to help stabilize the domestic market. “This issue has already been agreed within the ‘group of five’,” he said, referring to the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union. He said the fuel market remained stable for now and assured the public that the government was taking steps to prevent shortages of gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel. The comments followed an emergency meeting chaired by Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev on fuel supply security, during which officials reviewed stock levels and import flows. Government officials said geopolitical tensions and disruptions to logistics were continuing to affect fuel markets and add pressure on prices. Authorities are also accelerating efforts to diversify fuel imports. Participants in the meeting said new supply channels were already being negotiated, with some concrete agreements reached. Kasymaliev ordered daily monitoring of fuel supplies and weekly coordination meetings to ensure a rapid response to emerging risks. On July 1, Kyrgyzstan’s Energy Ministry said it had launched talks with several countries to expand fuel imports and reduce dependence on a single supplier. Official requests have been sent to authorities in Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan as Bishkek seeks to secure additional supplies. The ministry said Kyrgyzstan imports the vast majority of its fuel and remains vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices, geopolitical instability in the Middle East, and disruptions to international logistics. Officials added that domestic fuel reserves are currently sufficient and that deliveries under previously signed contracts are continuing. The Energy Ministry said it is conducting daily monitoring together with the anti-monopoly regulator and holding consultations with fuel traders on logistics, pricing and stockpiling. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the impact of Russia’s fuel restrictions is already being felt across the region. Kyrgyzstan has recently reported supply disruptions involving premium AI-95 and AI-98 gasoline. Kanatbek Eshatov, head of the country’s Association of Oil Traders, said some filling stations had experienced interruptions because of reduced and irregular Russian deliveries, combined with seasonal demand. Kyrgyzstan receives more than 90% of its gasoline imports from Russia. Between January and May 2026, Russia supplied more than 251,000 tons of gasoline, 235,150 tons of diesel fuel, and 48,150 tons of jet fuel to Kyrgyzstan, according to industry estimates.