The Kyrgyz authorities are reportedly considering taking the national gas infrastructure back under state control if the Russian energy corporation Gazprom fails to fulfill its long-standing obligations regarding nationwide gasification. President Sadyr Japarov made these remarks during a public meeting with residents of the Talas region, addressing growing frustrations over delayed infrastructure development and foreign corporate control in the critical energy sector.

During the address, the Kyrgyz leader recalled the controversial 2013 agreement in which the country's entire gas distribution network was allegedly handed over to the Russian firm for a symbolic price of just one dollar. The deal, designed to last until approximately 2039, has reportedly left Kyrgyzstan unable to independently manage its own territorial development, forcing Bishkek to coordinate virtually all energy-related decisions with the foreign monopoly.

According to Japarov, while the original justification for the buyout was purportedly centered on securing stable fuel supplies rather than retaining state ownership, the binding contracts clearly stipulated that Gazprom must fully finance the gasification of the entire republic. The president noted that he has repeatedly raised this compliance issue with company representatives over the past few years, warning them that he is fully prepared to reclaim the system in a manner reminiscent of the high-profile takeover of the Kumtor gold mine.

For context, the Kumtor gold deposit was successfully brought back under state ownership in 2021 following a protracted dispute with Canadian investors, a precedent that Japarov invoked to signal that current threats of nationalization should be taken seriously. Meanwhile, Gazprom Kyrgyzstan, the subsidiary managing the local networks, has previously claimed that regulated consumer tariffs allegedly fail to cover operational costs, thereby slowing down expansion efforts. Representatives of the Russian energy giant have not yet issued an official response to the president's latest statements.

Source: kun.uz