An agreement in principle to start construction of an oil refinery in Kyrgyzstan with a capacity of 2 million tons per year was reached at a meeting of the Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev and head of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovnag Abdullayev on Thursday, Kyrgyz presidential press service reported. The oil refinery is expected to be commissioned in late 2013.

Head of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan visited Kyrgyzstan to meet with the country's leadership on behalf of Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, with whom Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev met in Moscow on Dec.20, 2011.

The meeting between President Atambayev and Abdullayev discussed supply of crude oil and oil products from Azerbaijan, as well as prospects for oil exploration and production in Kyrgyzstan.

The President instructed the Energy and Industry Minister to provide full assistance in the construction of the oil refinery in Kyrgyzstan that will enable to diversify supply of oil products to the country's market.

Abdullayev said a group of specialists will be sent soon to examine construction of the oil refinery and start of the company's activity in Kyrgyzstan's energy sector. He also stressed that the issue is under President Aliyev's control.