The head of the information policy service under the President of Kyrgyzstan, Daiyrbek Orunbekov, shared information about a corruption scheme related to the activities of "Kyrgyzneftegaz" and its subsidiary "Kyrgyz Petroleum Company." According to him, "Kyrgyzneftegaz" began its operations in 1952. During the Soviet Union, the extracted oil was sent to Uzbekistan for processing into gasoline and diesel fuel. However, after the collapse of the USSR, this process ceased, and Kyrgyzstan faced a shortage of processing capacities.
With the start of Kyrgyzstan's participation in the Customs Union, the country began importing fuel that meets European standards (Ai-92, Ai-95, Ai-98) from Russia, resulting in a significant drop in demand for local Ai-80 gasoline, Orunbekov explained.
As noted by Daiyrbek Orunbekov, starting from 2021, "Kyrgyzneftegaz" and "Kyrgyz Petroleum Company" came under the influence of Kamchybek Tashiev, who appointed his nephew Baigazy Matisakov to leadership positions. It was during this period, according to the State Tax Service, that a corruption scheme was organized, leading to significant financial losses.
According to Orunbekov, the scheme operated as follows: crude oil extracted by "Kyrgyzneftegaz" was supposed to be processed at the "Kyrgyz Petroleum Company" with subsequent sale of the products. However, private intermediaries connected to the Tashiev family operated between these enterprises. Formally, the processing went through them, but in reality, it was carried out by the state plant. The finished products were then sold through companies owned by the Tashiev family, and the main profits went to them rather than the state budget.
Moreover, despite the low demand for Ai-80 gasoline and diesel in the country, companies linked to the Tashievs sold this product to two major local oil traders, effectively forcing them to purchase these types of fuel. Under pressure, these traders mixed Ai-80 and diesel with higher quality fuel imported from Russia and sold it to the population, which became known among oil traders as "shakarap."
After Kamchybek Tashiev left his positions, the mentioned companies ceased purchases of Ai-80 gasoline and diesel. Currently, large stocks of this product have accumulated at the warehouses of "Kyrgyz Petroleum Company."
In this regard, the government has decided on the temporary export of local fuel. Now Ai-80 gasoline and diesel fuel produced by "Junda" and "Kyrgyz Petroleum Company" will be supplied to Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Fuel that meets European standards and imported from Russia will not be exported abroad.
The state has also begun the modernization of the "Kyrgyz Petroleum Company" plant, planning to complete the work within two years. After the upgrade, the enterprise will be able to produce fuel that meets European standards, which will allow it to meet the domestic needs of the country, noted the head of the information policy service.
