▲ A gas station in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan, a Central Asian nation, has requested fuel supplies from neighboring countries as its primary fuel importer, Russia, faces significant production setbacks following Ukrainian drone attacks on its oil refineries.
According to Reuters on July 2 (local time), the Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy announced in a statement the previous day that it had sent official requests for fuel supplies to Kazakhstan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan to ensure a stable fuel supply.
However, the ministry added that current fuel reserves are sufficient and that domestic supply is proceeding according to plan.
Last month, Kyrgyz authorities implemented price control policies on certain retail fuel sales.
The request from Kyrgyzstan comes in light of the situation in Russia, which supplies 90% of the gasoline consumed domestically in Kyrgyzstan.
Russia is experiencing disruptions in fuel production after its refineries were damaged by repeated drone attacks from Ukraine.
In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the domestic fuel supply shortage last week and stated that a ban on diesel exports could be implemented.
Contrary to the stance of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Energy that fuel reserves are sufficient, the Association of Oil Traders of Kyrgyzstan acknowledged that supply shortages for some fuels are already emerging.
The association stated that some domestic refineries are experiencing a shortage of AI-95 (95 octane) premium gasoline, while reserves of AI-92, the standard gasoline, are sufficient for 30 to 45 days.
It added that there is a relatively comfortable supply of diesel, which is heavily used during the crop harvesting season.
Like other neighboring Central Asian countries, Kyrgyzstan maintains close economic ties with Russia.
(Photo: Captured from Russian search engine Yandex, Yonhap News)
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