Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Erlist Akunbekov held talks with the management of CNPC and Sinopec during a working visit to Beijing. The parties discussed the construction of an oil refinery in Kyrgyzstan, exploration and development of oil and gas fields, as well as the construction of an oil products pipeline across the Kyrgyz-Chinese border.

The possibility of building oil storage facilities near the Torugart and Irkeshtam border checkpoints is also being considered in order to reduce logistics costs. Road traffic between the two countries passes through these checkpoints.

Akunbekov noted that the visit was being made on the instructions of President Sadyr Japarov to ensure stable and uninterrupted supplies of petroleum products to the country. Companies operating in Kyrgyzstan are currently signing agreements with CNPC and Sinopec, helping to ensure regular fuel supplies.

Kyrgyzstan is almost entirely dependent on imports of petroleum products. According to the National Statistical Committee, in the first half of 2026 the country imported 599,500 tonnes of fuel worth USD 494.7 million, with Russia accounting for 91.1% of the total. China has already begun supplies: in July 2026, the first shipment of diesel fuel crossed the border through Torugart, while in August Bishkek confirmed imports of 3,000 tonnes of jet fuel and negotiations for the supply of 5,000 tonnes of diesel. The largest Chinese project in the country is the Junda refinery in Kara-Balta, which, following modernization, has a capacity of 800,000 tonnes per year and meets around 30% of domestic market demand.