Kyrgyzstan and China discussed the construction of an oil refinery and a cross-border oil pipeline

Erlist Akunbekov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, discussed joint projects in Kyrgyzstan with the heads of the Chinese oil and gas companies CNPC and Sinopec.

In Beijing, Akunbekov held talks with Dai Houliang, Chairman of the Board of Directors of CNPC, and Hou Qijun, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sinopec.

The parties considered several areas of cooperation:

• the construction of an oil refinery in Kyrgyzstan;
• the exploration and development of oil and gas fields;
• the construction of an oil pipeline to transport petroleum products across the Kyrgyz-Chinese border;
• the construction of oil depots near the ‘Torugart’ and ‘Erkeshtam’ border checkpoints.

According to Akunbekov, negotiations with Chinese oil companies are taking place as part of President Sadyr Zhaparov’s directive to ensure stable and uninterrupted supplies of petroleum products to Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyz companies are currently concluding agreements with CNPC and Sinopec, which, it is noted, ensures regular supplies of petroleum products to Kyrgyzstan.

Separately, the parties are considering the establishment of oil depots near the Chinese border. It is anticipated that this will reduce logistical costs associated with the supply of petroleum products.

The negotiations took place against the backdrop of the situation in the Central Asian oil market. The participants noted the need to further expand cooperation in the oil sector.