Kazakhstan Tajikistan Sign Fuel Supply and Mining Agreements

Kazakhstan and Tajikistan have signed a framework agreement on fuel supplies as part of wider plans to expand cooperation in mining and manufacturing. Following talks between Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Emomali Rahmon in Astana on November 7, Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry reported that 20 cooperation documents were signed, while businesses from the two countries concluded 25 agreements worth a total of $2.5 billion. It is fuel supplies that are particularly important for Tajikistan. The country has substantial hydropower resources but depends on imported petroleum products, primarily from Russia. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, Russia accounted for 72.3% of Tajikistan's petroleum product imports in the first half of 2026, while domestic refineries met only about 0.5% of the country's needs. Tajikistan has also held talks with China on importing fuel as it seeks to diversify its suppliers. The agreements also include cooperation in the electricity and metallurgical sectors, while in the mining sector, Tajikistan's Main Department of Geology signed a memorandum with Kazakhstan-registered gold producer Solidcore Resources plc. Bilateral trade reached $1.13 billion in January–September 2026, up 25.6% from the same period a year earlier, according to Tajik government figures. Kazakhstan is among Tajikistan's three largest trading partners. More than 130 enterprises with Kazakh capital are registered in Tajikistan, while over 580 companies with Tajik participation operate in Kazakhstan. Other outcomes of the talks include memorandums on cooperation in artificial intelligence and e-commerce, as well as plans for joint projects in manufacturing, agriculture and transport. Kazakhstan will also participate in training personnel for Tajikistan's border troops.