OMM Newsroom
Kyrgyzstan doubled gasoline and diesel production in January-September 2026 as disruptions at Russian oil refineries affected fuel supplies across Central Asia. The increase has also highlighted the region’s dependence on Russian energy supplies.
AnewZ, citing official statistics, reported that Kyrgyzstan produced more than 200,000 tonnes of gasoline and the same volume of diesel during the period. Output of both fuels doubled compared with the corresponding period a year earlier.
Repeated drone attacks on Russian oil refineries have disrupted production and caused fuel shortages inside the country. Moscow has restricted exports and begun seeking additional supplies from foreign partners. The effects are particularly evident in neighboring countries that depend on Russian petroleum products.
Fuel costs prompt government intervention
Kyrgyzstan imports more than 90% of its gasoline from Russia, leaving it vulnerable to supply disruptions.
Rising fuel prices prompted the government to intervene: Bishkek allocated about $130 million to subsidize fuel importers. More than $30 million has already been paid out.
Authorities say the country’s reserves of gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas will be sufficient to meet domestic demand through the end of 2026. Although local production has increased, the scale of government support reflects the pressure on the fuel market.
Facilities upgraded to expand refining capacity
Expanding local refining capacity has become one of Kyrgyzstan’s main responses. The country has seven small oil refineries, including the Junda plant, owned by China’s Shanxi Coal Chemical Industry Group, and Kyrgyz Petroleum Company, part of Kyrgyzneftegaz.
Modernizing the Junda refinery could significantly increase domestic supply. Once it reaches its planned capacity, the facility could meet more than 40% of the country’s needs.
The refinery is also transitioning to production of higher-quality fuel that meets the K5 standard. Its overall contribution to supply, however, will depend on completion of the modernization and the consistent operation of the facility.
Securing enough feedstock to keep refineries running is also essential to increasing processing capacity. Kyrgyzstan has stepped up purchases of gas condensate from Russia, with imports rising 50% in August and September.
The country has also begun receiving Russian oil via Kazakhstan, creating another supply route to support domestic refining.
These steps point to a gradual shift in Kyrgyzstan’s fuel supply strategy: rather than buying finished petroleum products from abroad, the country is seeking to process a larger share of imported feedstock at local facilities. This approach could reduce the impact of disruptions at foreign refineries, but will not eliminate dependence on imported energy. Russia remains the main supplier of both finished fuel and the feedstock needed for domestic production.
