Kyrgyzstan plans to import 60,000–70,000 tons of fuel from Belarus each month, Kyrgyz Energy Minister Altynbek Rysbekov has said.
The country is seeking alternative fuel suppliers amid shortages in Russia caused by Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries and Russia’s ban on gasoline and diesel exports.
According to Rysbekov, the supply volumes have already been agreed with Belarus. The two sides are now working on logistics arrangements and transit through Russia, the Kyrgyz news outlet Tazabek reports.
“Our deputy prime minister personally traveled there and held negotiations. Now, at our level, we are working out the logistics mechanisms and routes—how exactly to deliver this fuel from Belarus to Kyrgyzstan. Negotiations with Belarus have been completed, and the volumes have been agreed,” the minister said.
Kyrgyzstan’s monthly fuel demand amounts to about 60,000–70,000 tons. According to Rysbekov, negotiations are focused on securing monthly deliveries of those volumes.
“Negotiations are currently underway on these volumes to ensure monthly deliveries. The issue of the transit route is now being considered. The transit will go through Russia,” Rysbekov said.
Kyrgyzstan is also negotiating fuel supplies with Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and China. According to the minister, Kazakhstan has reported fuel shortages of its own but has pledged to provide assistance.
In June, Belarus supplied record volumes of fuel to Russia. Sales through the St. Petersburg International Mercantile Exchange rose to 90,900 tons in June. At the beginning of July, sales volumes declined. According to Kommersant, this may be because Belarusian oil refineries had already sold nearly all of their fuel allocations for July.
