Kazakhstan to Limit Oil Product Exports

The Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan plans to limit the export of petroleum products to prevent a domestic market fuel shortage. A draft of the corresponding order has already been compiled and published on the portal "Open NPA," Orda.kz reports.

According to the Ministry of Energy, a ban on the export of petroleum products that can be used as so-called "cover goods " is planned. These goods are declared instead of others known as "risk goods." Their export most often violates the law.

The restriction will affect the export of petroleum products by rail and road. The ban will last six months and apply to the EAEU countries.

The ministry explained that limiting fuel exports is necessary to prevent a shortage of fuel and lubricants within the country.

There is an uncharacteristic increase in fuel consumption and a decrease in the balance on the domestic market. In particular, significant growth is observed in the southern border regions of Kazakhstan. This is due to the difference in prices for petroleum products in Kazakhstan and neighboring countries, the Ministry of Energy emphasized.

According to the ministry, price differences encourage the active transportation of oil products from Kazakhstan to neighboring countries. Law enforcement agencies have discovered that gasoline is being taken under the guise of "cover goods."

In September, Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar noted that consumption of AI-95, AI-92 gasoline, and diesel fuel had grown significantly in the south of Kazakhstan. The high gasoline demand was tied to illegal exports to neighboring countries.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny