Gasoline Export and Diesel Fuel Ban to Be Extended until 2026

Kazakhstan's authorities intend to tighten control over the export of petroleum products, Orda.kz reports.

As the Ministry of Energy noted, the country is experiencing an abnormal growth in the consumption of a popular type of fuel — AI-92 gasoline and diesel fuel. The monthly volumes of illegal export of petroleum products, carried out under the guise of "cover goods," reach 10,000 tons. The reason is a significant difference in prices: in Kazakhstan, fuel is cheaper than in neighboring countries by 17-107%.

Moreover, within the framework of the agreement on the supply of oil and oil products, Kazakhstan is forced to import oil products on duty-free terms. And accordingly, the requirements of the Russian side to ban the re-export of fuel and lubricants outside the EAEU are taken into account. Thus, increased control is required,
the explanatory note says. 

The authorities seek to extend the ban on fuel exports outside the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) until December 31, 2026. The draft order was jointly prepared by the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of National Economy.

The main objectives are:

• Loading idle capacities of oil refineries and reducing the shortage of motor gasoline on the domestic market
• Fulfilling the conditions for duty-free oil supplies and excluding re-export until the formation of common markets for oil and oil products within the EAEU

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina