Kazakhstan to introduce temporary ban on diesel fuel traffic

Kazakhstan is considering to introduce a temporary ban on diesel fuel traffic from the country, Kazpravda reports citing Kanat Bozumbayev as saying at the board meeting in the Energy Ministry of the RK.

“To prevent diesel fuel shortage, the ministry has developed an order providing for temporary ban on diesel fuel traffic from Kazakhstan,” the Minister of Energy said.

Bozumbayev also noted that since the beginning of 2018, retail prices for gasoline AI-92 have decreased by 4%- from 160 to 153.4 tenge.

“In February of this year, the minimum price for AI-92 is 139 tenge in Almaty. For comparison, in February 2018, there was a rise in prices for diesel fuel at gas stations. The main reasons were seasonal increase in diesel fuel consumption in the spring and autumn by agricultural producers, seasonal growth of transit traffic, as well as the continued small dependence on imports,” Bozumbayev added.

The minister noted that it is necessary for Kazmunaygaz to tighten control over the operation of the oil refineries’ equipment in order to exclude emergency stops, leading to a shortage in the oil products market.