Gazpromneft-Aero Kyrgyzstan starts fuel supply to US airbase

Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 17 / Trend /

The joint Kyrgyz-Russian enterprise Gazpromneft-Aero Kyrgyzstan on Thursday started fuel supplies to the Transit Centre located at Manas airport in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz government told Itar-Tass.

"Until February next year Gazpromneft Aero Kyrgyzstan will meet 20 percent of fuel needs of the Transit Centre," a government official said. "In 90 days, the share of the joint venture should be increased several times."

In addition to the Kyrgyz-Russian company, in which 51 percent of shares is owned by the Russian side and 49 percent - by the Kyrgyz government, a UK company is also engaged in the supply of jet fuel for the Transit Centre. Earlier, Mina Group was supplying kerosene for the
military of the antiterrorist coalition forces. "Under the contract, the republic's government undertakes to support the activity of the joint venture with infrastructure, and Russia - with fuel and lubricants," said the government of Kyrgyzstan.

Director of Gazpromneft-Aero Kyrgyzstan Tilek Isayev said earlier that a one-year contract envisages the supply of 240 thousand metric tons of fuel, which in monetary terms is approximately 300-400 million US dollars. Fuel to Manas will be supplied from the Moscow, Omsk and Yaroslavl refineries, and well as from the companies Rosneft-Aero and Lukoil-Aero.

Before 2009, the Transit Centre at Manas was called an airbase of the international anti-terrorist forces. It was opened in December 2001 and was intended to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Initially, military personnel and equipment from several countries members of the coalition were deployed here. Currently, however, the core group consists of representatives of the US Air Force.