KazMunayGas Responds to Farmers’ Complaints About Diesel Quality

Farmers in northern Kazakhstan have alleged that they were supplied with low-quality diesel fuel under a discounted program. KazMunayGas, however, maintains that the fuel meets all technical standards, Orda.kz reports.

Last week, videos circulated online showing farmers claiming that diesel fuel from the Atyrau Oil Refinery began to release paraffin and solidify during the first frosts. According to the farmers, about 60% of the total batch turned out to be substandard.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov confirmed to journalists that there were indeed problems with the fuel. As a result, many farmers switched to diesel from the Pavlodar Oil Chemistry Refinery (POCR)

The Atyrau Oil Refinery (AOR), currently undergoing scheduled maintenance, told Orda.kz that all diesel supplied under the preferential delivery program met quality requirements. Company representatives suggested that farmers might have mistakenly received summer-grade diesel instead of winter-grade fuel during distribution.

KazMunayGas later commented on the matter, noting that the viral video of frozen diesel in the Qostanay region was six days old and that the issue had already been resolved. The company added that Kazakhstan’s refineries are operating according to approved production schedules to meet domestic market demand.

According to the September production plan, domestic refineries produced summer-grade diesel fuel until October 1. Since July, fuel has been supplied to the northern regions from both the Atyrau and Pavlodar refineries. This is standard annual practice. At the request of the Ministry of Agriculture, KazMunayGas is ready to consider switching to the production of low-temperature diesel fuel earlier than usual, the company said.

KMG emphasized that diesel production at the country’s refineries has now been adjusted.

Since the beginning of October, the Pavlodar Oil Chemistry Refinery and the Shymkent Oil Refinery have been producing interseasonal diesel fuel capable of withstanding temperatures down to –5°C.

By mid-October, production will shift to winter diesel fuel suitable for –15°C. At the Atyrau Oil Refinery, winter-grade diesel will begin production after October 25, following completion of maintenance.

A total of 422,100 tons of diesel fuel from domestic refineries has been allocated for autumn fieldwork across the country — including 183,400 tons from the AOR, 174,300 tons from the POCR, and 64,400 tons from the PKOP plant.
 KMG reported.

According to the company, 57,000 tons of fuel from the Atyrau Refinery and 28,500 tons from the Pavlodar Refinery were shipped to farmers in Qostanay Region.

Aqmola Region received 51,100 tons from Atyrau and 33,300 tons from Pavlodar, while North Kazakhstan Region received 56,100 tons from Atyrau and 12,500 tons from Pavlodar.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny