Atyrau Oil Refinery Repairs: KazMunayGas Comments

KazMunayGas's press service has clarified whether Kazakhstan will have enough AI-92 gasoline for the scheduled maintenance at the Atyrau Oil Refinery. Information previously emerged that additional gasoline will be purchased in Russia due to the risk of a fuel shortage, Orda.kz reports.

According to the Ministry of Energy, the Atyrau refinery will be offline for repairs from October 1 to 25. On October 1, the Russian Reuters service reported that KMG allegedly plans to purchase an additional 50,000 tons of motor gasoline from Russia to compensate for a possible shortage.

This month, according to the schedule of the Ministry of Energy, supplies of AI-92 gasoline to the Kazakhstan market will fall to 302.5 thousand tons from 404.5 thousand tons in September. According to traders, existing gasoline reserves may run out in the second half of the month, causing a deficit, so Kazakhstan will need imports, writes Reuters.

Reuters claimed that KazMunayGas might have to buy Russian fuel at a loss to sell it domestically at a lower price. The press service of JSC NC KazMunayGas responded to Orda.kz's request and explained that a gasoline shortage is not expected in Kazakhstan.

During the shutdown, the ANPZ formed a reserve of petroleum products to ensure fuel supplies to consumers, including more than 25 thousand tons of AI-92 gasoline, more than 17 thousand tons of diesel fuel, and more than six thousand tons of jet fuel. As of October 3, the regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan formed reserves of AI-92 gasoline and diesel fuel, covering the needs of the domestic market for 25 and 26 days, respectively, KMG emphasized .

Other Kazakh refineries are operating normally and shipping products as planned. If the accumulated gasoline reserves are depleted, KMG will take appropriate measures. The national company did not specify whether there were agreements with the Russian side on purchasing additional batches of AI-92 in October.

Oil and gas industry expert Oleg Chervinsky warned in late September that Kazakhstan might not have enough gasoline, and fuel supplies from Russia would be required.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny