After 21 days of gas blackout, Uzbekistan finally agreed to resume gas supplies to Southern Kyrgyzstan. Many believe that it is a result of talks of Salamat Aitikeev, director of KyrgyzGas, with his Uzbek colleagues. Mr Aitikeev left for Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, on Wednesday morning. It is remarkable that he could make an agreement with Uzbekistan so fast comparing to previous years, when negotiations lasted at least several days.

Press-service of KyrgyzGas informed today that the agreement on resuming gas supplies was achieved on new conditions, fulfillment of which will obviously be very difficult for Kyrgyzstan. New conditions say [ru] that from October 15, 2009, three times a month Kyrgyzstan must pay prepayment for upcoming 10 days, which is approximately 4 million USD during the winter time. Can KyrgyzGas meet new requirements of Uzbekistan? Well, time is the best answer for it.

Gas supplies were cut off due to 19 mln USD debt of Kyrgyzstan. Local governments in the South, especially Osh, did a massive job in making non-payers pay their debts. Almost every day Kyrgyz TV channels have been showing shows about how gas officials paid visits to debtors houses or workplaces, and cut off their gas tubes. As of today, Kyrgyzstan managed to pay only 4.6 mln USD to Uzbekistan.

Kyrgyzstan has it was own gas resources estimated of 3 bln cubic meters. However, due to the geological difficulties and poor infrastructure, Kyrgyzstan has difficulties in developing its own gas fields.

Many experts have been arguing that Uzbekistan is using its gas as a counterbalance tool in political relationship with Kyrgyzstan. Well, I guess they are right. And would Kyrgyzstan have the same opportunities, it would have used them the same way. And until Kyrgyzstan does not find a solid spanner to tighten the screws from its side (maybe Kambarata Hydropower plants?), Uzbekistan will keep using its gas a political tool for many years.