According to him, Uzbekistan has reduced gas supplies to Kyrgyzstan as a result.

Kyrgyzstan owes US$18.8 million and the debt has built up "due to a sharp increase in gas prices", Salamat Aytikeyev said.

The population owes about US$5 million for consumed gas and consumers in the Kyrgyz south owe the most part of this debt. Gas supplies to the country’s north have now been cut by 30%, the director-general said. In total, gas supplies to about 10,000 consumers have been stopped in the country.

"We have a month to resume gas supplies in the country. In November, when it will be cold, gas consumption in Kyrgyzstan will increase five-fold, but the limit set by the Uzbek side does not allow us to supply such amount," Salamat Aytikeyev said.

In line with the existing agreement, Uzbekistan must supply 650 million cubic meters of gas to Kyrgyzstan in 2009.