diff --git a/src/config.ts b/src/config.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c2e4e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/config.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import 'dotenv/config';
+
+function require_env(key: string): string {
+  const val = process.env[key];
+  if (!val) throw new Error(`Missing required env var: ${key}`);
+  return val;
+}
+
+export const config = {
+  telegramToken: require_env('TELEGRAM_TOKEN'),
+  telegramChatId: require_env('TELEGRAM_CHAT_ID'),
+  openrouterApiKey: require_env('OPENROUTER_API_KEY'),
+  dbPath: process.env['DB_PATH'] ?? './data/assistant.db',
+  morningReminder: process.env['MORNING_REMINDER'] ?? '05:30',
+  eveningReminder: process.env['EVENING_REMINDER'] ?? '16:30',
+  defaultModel: process.env['DEFAULT_MODEL'] ?? 'google/gemini-2.5-flash-preview',
+};