Jezqazgan Residents Speak out over Rising Gas Prices, Akim’s Office Attempts to Explain

Residents of Jezqazgan say their city has become the most expensive in Kazakhstan for gas. The regional Akim’s office has already responded to the public outcry, Orda.kz reports.

Residents of the private sector gathered near a school in the village of Bekbolat-say and openly voiced their dissatisfaction.

Berik Zhagiparov wrote about this on Facebook.

When the gas was connected last year, the price was 18 tenge per cubic meter. Now people are being charged 53–54 tenge! That’s almost three times more than promised! We were paying 25,000 tenge per month in the winter — now the bills will exceed 50,000 tenge. Gas is extracted domestically, in Kumkol, but sold at a higher price than anywhere else in the country. This is a mockery of the residents of Jezqazgan. This is a direct path to social unrest!

The regional Akimat explained that gasification of the area began in 2021. The copper smelter became the largest consumer. Retail gas prices are determined by government agencies, taking into account the purchase price, transportation, and delivery.

For socially vulnerable groups, a preferential price of 35.3 tenge per cubic meter applies.

The Akimat said the high price is due to the region’s distance from production sites: transportation costs make up as much as 80% of the final cost.

Tariffs are lower in the western regions, where gas is extracted.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov