According to the Eurasian Economic Union, natural gas producer prices in the region (excluding Armenia) increased by 5.38% from December 2023 to November 2024. The highest change was recorded in Kyrgyzstan, at 14.8%, while the smallest increase occurred in Russia, at just 0.8%.
As of January 2025, the cost of natural gas for households in Kyrgyzstan was 22.07 soms per cubic meter, and for industrial enterprises, commercial structures, and government organizations, it was 28 soms, including VAT, according to Gazprom Kyrgyzstan, as reported by Akchsbar.kg.
Compared to January 2024, gas prices for households increased by 2.14 soms, while prices for businesses rose by 3.56 soms. However, given Kyrgyzstan's complete dependence on imported natural gas, such changes can be considered moderate. The republic imports gas from Russia at preferential rates, with the cost tied to the official USD exchange rate on the first day of each month, explaining tariff fluctuations based on currency exchange rates.
In Central Asia, energy tariff increases are most noticeable in Uzbekistan, where significant price hikes for both gas and electricity are expected starting in April 2025. According to UzDaily, the base electricity tariff (up to 200 kWh per month) will increase by 33.3%, reaching 600 soums. An even steeper hike is expected for natural gas, with its price rising by 53.8% to 1,000 soums.
Converted to Kyrgyzstan’s national currency, gas for households in Uzbekistan will cost 6.77 soms per cubic meter, which is lower than in Kyrgyzstan. However, Uzbekistan relies on its own gas reserves, while Kyrgyzstan is entirely dependent on imports.
As for electricity, starting in April, Uzbek residents will pay 4.06 soms per kWh under the base tariff. This is nearly 3.7 times higher than in Kyrgyzstan, where the electricity tariff is 1.11 soms. Even after the expected increase in May 2025 (an additional 26 tyiyn to 1.37 soms), electricity prices in Kyrgyzstan will remain significantly lower. For industrial consumers in Kyrgyzstan, the tariff will be 3.49 soms per kWh starting in May.
Thus, while Kyrgyzstan faces moderate increases in gas prices, it continues to maintain some of the lowest electricity prices in the region.
CentralasianLIGHT.org,
January 21, 2025