Kazakhstan to suspend imports of Russian high-octane gasoline until July 1
ASTANA. April 19 (Interfax) - The Kazakh Oil and Gas Ministry and Transport and Communications Ministry have drafted a resolution for national railway operator Kazakhstan Temir Joly (KTZ) to suspend imports of Russian petroleum products.
"The draft resolution of the Oil Ministry and Transport Ministry on suspending petroleum product imports from Russia has been approved and is planned for signing on April 23," a source familiar with the situation told Interfax.
According to the draft document, KTZ must fully stop supplies of Russian gasoline varieties: AI-92, AI-95, AI-96, AI-97 and AI-98 to Kazakhstan until July 1, 2013.
In addition, diesel fuel imports will be suspended until October 1, 2013, and imports of gasoline AI-80 until December 31, 2013.
Until the end of the year, Kazakhstan plans to suspend the supply of Russian fuel oil and bitumen BND 60/90 from October 1 to December 31, 2013.
From July 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013, KTZ will be delivering gasoline AI-92, AI-95, AI-96, AI-97 and AI-98 based strictly on delivery schedules approved by the Oil and Gas Ministry.
Earlier, Kazakh Oil and Gas Minister Sauat Mynbayev said that Kazakhstan had no plans to ban imports of Russian petroleum products.
According to Kazakh government resolution "On supplies of petroleum products from the Russian Federation" signed in January, the Oil and Gas Ministry and Transport and Communications Ministry are authorized to instruct KTZ on restricting petroleum product supplies from Russia to the extent previously approved by the parties in an agreement between the Russian and Kazakh governments on supplies of oil and petroleum products to Kazakhstan. This resolution is effective until January 1, 2014.
Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has signed the bill "On ratification of the agreement between Kazakhstan and Russia on supplies of oil and petroleum products to Kazakhstan." This agreement was signed in Moscow on December 9, 2010 to define the principles of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries on common oil and petroleum product markets and specify the supply terms of petroleum products to Kazakhstan to meet domestic demand to the extent previously approved by the parties.
According to the amendments, the parties identified the manner of oil swap-operations that will compensate for Russia's costs for petroleum product supplies with Kazakhstan's crude oil.
On January 1, 2013, Kazakhstan imposed a six-month ban on light distillates, kerosene, gas oils and other petroleum products falling under customs code 2710 20 900 0. It does not apply to special gasolines and domestic heating oil.