BISHKEK, Kyrgzstan - An agreement to buy 100
percent shares of Kyrgyz national gas operator KyrgyzGas by the Russian
energy giant Gazprom was signed on Thursday.
The head of
KyrgyzGas, Turgunbek Kulmurzayev and Gazprom CEO, Alexei Miller signed
the document in Kyrgyz capital Bishkek. Gazprom purchased KyrgyzGas for a
symbolic price of one U.S. dollar.
“The symbolic price of one
dollar for the sale of KyrgyzGas has been widely criticized,” Kyrgyz
President Almazbek Atambaev said after the signing, adding that,
“However, Gazprom will be responsible for KyrgyzGas’ debt of US$40
million and will additionally invest US$600 million in the energy sector
in Kyrgyzstan.”
MOSCOW, February 4 (RIA Novosti) – Russian President Vladimir Putin
signed a law Tuesday to ratify a deal with Kyrgyzstan to buy the former
Soviet republic’s debt-ridden natural gas monopoly for $1.
Kyrgyzstan’s parliament approved the deal in December to hand Moscow
control over the strategic asset in exchange for a guaranteed supply of
natural gas.
Under the agreement, Russian energy giant Gazprom will gain control
over pipelines, gas distribution stations and underground storage
facilities owned by Kyrgyzgaz.
Kyrgyzstan will also have a right to buy back Kyrgyzgaz assets in 25 years.
