Supreme Court Sides with Antimonopoly Agency in Dispute with CNPC-AqtobeMunayGas

Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the Agency for the Protection of Market Competition (APMC) in a two-year legal battle with JSC CNPC-AqtobeMunayGas, a major oil and gas enterprise partly owned by China’s CNPC, Orda.kz reports.

According to findings from the APMC’s Aqtobe regional office, the company was found to have abused its dominant market position. The investigation revealed that CNPC-AqtobeMunayGas imposed unfavorable contract terms on counterparties, including requiring payments within three days instead of the five-day period established by law.

Additionally, the company demanded that tank trucks be filled with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) only up to 85% capacity, complicating the unloading process and forcing partners to seek alternate tank sizes for the remaining gas.

The antimonopoly agency had initially issued a notice to the company requesting that it voluntarily correct the violations and revise its contracts. After the company refused, the case proceeded to court.

Lower courts supported the APMC’s position, and the Supreme Court upheld their rulings. The case will now be referred to the Aqtobe Administrative Offences Court to determine penalties against CNPC-AqtobeMunayGas.

The enterprise, a key industrial player in the Aqtobe region, is responsible for developing the Janajol oil field. One of its principal shareholders is China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC).

Original Author: Nikita Drobny