Bishkek, (TDI): Kyrgyzstan’s Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibrayev has proposed a long-term agreement for the supply of Azerbaijani crude oil during a meeting with Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov.
The meeting took place in Bishkek, coinciding with the 4th meeting of energy ministers from the Organization of Turkic States.
During their discussions, Ibrayev suggested formalizing a contract to secure a steady supply of Azerbaijani crude oil for Kyrgyzstan.
This proposal aims to address Kyrgyzstan’s current reliance on imported oil, as the country’s local refining capacity covers only about 5% of its domestic fuel needs, with the remainder imported primarily from Russia.
Shahbazov expressed Azerbaijan’s willingness to cooperate and proposed the establishment of a special working group to facilitate the logistics and organization of the oil supply.
This initiative is expected to enhance the efficiency of the supply chain and ensure a reliable flow of crude oil to Kyrgyzstan.
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Beyond oil supplies, Ibrayev proposed further collaboration in the energy sector, specifically in hydropower and renewable energy projects in Kyrgyzstan.
He also suggested that Azerbaijan consider providing preferential financing of $2 million from the Azerbaijan-Kyrgyzstan Development Fund.
This funding would be used to purchase and install charging devices for electric vehicles, supporting Kyrgyzstan’s transition to cleaner energy sources.
Refinery Operations and Capacity
The Junda oil refinery in Kyrgyzstan, which recently reopened on August 30 in Kara-Balta after a significant overhaul, was a focal point of these discussions.
The refinery, located approximately 100 kilometers west of Bishkek, plays a crucial role in the country’s oil processing infrastructure.
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Ibrayev noted that the refinery requires more than 1 million tons of crude oil annually to operate efficiently.
The facility is currently aiming to reach its total annual processing capacity of 800,000 tons by the end of this year.
The planned increase in capacity is expected to enhance Kyrgyzstan’s ability to meet its domestic fuel demands and reduce its dependency on imports.
