Aitikeev said the official Tashkent refused to resume gas supplies unless Kyrgyzstan has paid the gas debt owed to Uzbekistan in full. Uzbekistan also refused to give some more time for debt repayment.

"At the present moment the Government of Kyrgyzstan is making arrangements to pay out this debt. If this problem is not resolved, our country will face disastrous consequences, since the population will have to consume more electricity instead," Salamat Aitikeev said.

Uzbekistan reduced gas supplies to Kyrgyzstan since September 22 due to the country’s US$18 million debt for supplied gas by Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan has suspended gas supplies to the southern Kyrgyzstan first. In the result, Osh, Jalal-Abad and Batken oblasts have been cut off entirely. The gas supplies were reduced by 30% for the northern parts of Kyrgyzstan.