Kyrgyzstan Begins Receiving First Fuel Batches from Azerbaijan

The first batches of fuel from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, Turkey and China have begun arriving in Kyrgyzstan. The country is widening its sources of petroleum product imports in an effort to reduce its dependence on a single supplier.

According to AZERTAC, citing the Kabar agency in a report datelined Astana on 29 October, the announcement was made by Kanatbek Eshatov, president of the Kyrgyzstan Oil Traders Association. He said Russia had previously been the main fuel supplier to Kyrgyzstan, and that the first fuel batches from China have begun arriving by rail.

Eshatov said the diesel fuel situation in Kyrgyzstan is stable, but a certain shortage persists on the gasoline market. The country's annual demand for petroleum products exceeds 1.5 million tonnes.