7 Jun 2022 11:36

Kazakhstan planning to extend ban on petroleum product exports thru 2022 - deputy PM

NUR-SULTAN. June 7 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan is planning to extend its ban on petroleum product exports, declared in November 2021, through 2022, Kazakh First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar said.

"For the purpose of balance on the domestic petroleum products market, efforts are being taken to extend the ban on petroleum product exports from the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan till the end of 2022," Sklyar said in response to an enquiry from the Mazhilis, the lower chamber of the Kazakh parliament.

Seeking to prevent limits on fuel and lubricant sales, constant monitoring and analysis of the impact of prices, demand and supply on the domestic market are being conducted, he said.

"Currently, all oil refineries are operating normally, and light petroleum products are being produced on a daily basis and shipped to the domestic market," Sklyar said.

The overall stock of diesel fuel at oil depots and refineries of Kazakhstan stood at 377,790 tonnes on May 30, which was enough to meet 25-day demand, he said.

As reported earlier, Kazakh oil refineries processed 5.9 million tonnes of crude over the first four months of 2022, up 5.2% from the respective period of 2021, while diesel fuel output amounted to 1.653 million tonnes (up 8.7%).

The ban on exports of petroleum products (diesel fuel and certain types of petroleum products) by truck, which was imposed in November 2021, expired on May 21, 2022. Kazakh Energy Minister Bolat Akchulakov said that the moratorium would be extended for another six months.

A new order banning petroleum product exports is being discussed by the authorities.