Vendors explain this by stating that they have to purchase coal from suppliers at higher prices.
Currently, the most popular type of coal, "oreshka" grade BR, is sold in Batken for 12 soms per kilogram at the most budget-friendly points.
The cost of a bag of coal ranges from 480 to 500 soms.
According to the information from the antimonopoly agency, as of October 9, 2025, state price regulation for coal was introduced in the city of Batken and Batken district for 90 days:
- grade BR — 1 kg in packaging should cost 9.5 soms, and a ton — 9000 soms;
- grade BK — a ton of coal should cost 12,000 soms.
The majority of coal supplied to Batken is mined in the mines of Suluktu.
In the mines, the price of grade BR coal is 6.5 soms per kilogram.
Vendors report that resellers buy coal for Batken at a price of 11.5 soms per kilogram, which is the reason for the rise in retail prices.
On November 13, a meeting took place between the president's representative in the region, Aibek Shamenov, and the owners of the mines in Suluktu, where he emphasized the need to address the coal issue. He called for price stabilization and the organization of coal supplies without intermediaries, directly from mine owners. However, local residents claim that prices continue to remain high.
It should be noted that there are 38 coal mines operating in Suluktu.
According to current data, medical institutions in the region are 97.4% supplied with coal (the required volume is 2.7 thousand tons).
Educational institutions have received 83% of the required 15.9 thousand tons.
The internal coal needs of the region amount to 120-130 thousand tons, of which about 100 thousand tons are needed for the population.
As of today, the level of coal supply to the population is 54%.
