Tokayev tasks Kazakh govt with starting liquefied petroleum gas trading

NUR-SULTAN. July 14 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has tasked the government with launching liquefied petroleum gas trading while preventing price disparities.

"We have had to extend regulation of liquefied petroleum gas retail prices till the end of this year. However, the artificial curbing of prices may eventually lead to a deficit. This is the law of the market. Hence, the government should arrange the beginning of trading and prevent price disparities," Tokayev said at a government meeting on Thursday.

Retail prices of liquefied gas sold for vehicles at gas stations were capped for 180 days in January 2022 on the presidential orders to achieve socioeconomic stabilization after mass unrest.

The capping of retail prices was extended until January 1, 2023, by the Kazakh Agency for Protection and Development of Competition in July.

Gas prices vary from 50 to 75 tenge per liter depending on the region. The prices reach 70 tenge per liter in Nur-Sultan and 65 tenge per liter in Almaty.