Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet of Ministers has imposed an indefinite ban on the export of gasoline and diesel fuel, reports infohub.kz.
The neighboring republic's authorities have changed the rules for exporting oil and petroleum products. The export restriction will now be in effect indefinitely, either until the domestic fuel market is fully supplied or until the common fuel market of the Eurasian Economic Union is launched. The ban covers exports of gasoline and diesel by road and rail.
Mazut, naphtha, and heating oil can only be exported under a separate cabinet decision for processing abroad, with the condition that the finished products are returned to Kyrgyzstan. The restriction does not apply to fuel in vehicle tanks.
Kyrgyzstan has faced a fuel crisis due to the halt of gasoline supplies from Russia, which had been providing up to 90% of the country's fuel imports. Moscow restricted fuel exports following a series of Ukrainian drone attacks on oil refineries. At the end of June, gas stations in Kyrgyzstan experienced a gasoline shortage.
Kyrgyzstan sought help from other states, including Kazakhstan. Astana replied evasively, but Bishkek managed to secure fuel supplies from China and Belarus. Tensions also arose at the Kazakhstan-Kyrgyz border over illegal gasoline exports from Kazakhstan.
Last week, Kyrgyzstan abolished state regulation of AI-95 gasoline prices amid the fuel crisis.