Kyrgyzstan President Threatens to Reclaim Gas System from Gazprom

Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov has warned that the country may take back control of its gas system from Russian company Gazprom if it fails to meet its obligations for the gasification of the republic. In interviews and public statements, Japarov has repeatedly emphasized that Gazprom was supposed to allocate funds for the full gasification of Kyrgyzstan when it acquired the country's gas system for $1 in 2013. He has compared the potential repossession of the gas system to the 'Kumtor' gold mine, which was also returned to state control. Japarov has stated that while the gas infrastructure has not officially been returned to state control, the authorities cannot promise specific dates for laying gas pipelines in separate settlements.