Kazakhstan has secured diesel fuel from Russia and can use it if necessary - minister

ALMATY. March 14 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan has an agreement with Russia on the supply of nearly 850,000 tonnes of diesel fuel in 2023 in the event of a shortage of fuel for a spring sowing campaign, Energy Minister Bolat Akchulakov said.

"We have agreed with Russia on the supply of 850,000 tonnes of diesel fuel this year. We have such agreement and if necessary, we can turn to those supplies," Akchulakov said on Tuesday.

He assured journalists that Kazakhstan had sufficient diesel fuel of its own despite the shutdown of the Shymkent refinery for repairs.

"We have accumulated enough stock, so we hope we can make it through this season quite successfully," the minister said.

The Shymkent refinery said earlier it scheduled maintenance from March 15, 2023 through April 9, 2023.