Earlier the ministry said Kazakhstan intends to purchase lubricants from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to cover shortage of petroleum products in the domestic market due to the reduction of supplies from the traditional supplier, Russia.
“Calculations have shown that the supplies from Azerbaijan increase the cost of fuel. If you can buy something cheaper, naturally you won’t waste your money to buy it more expensive,” the source added.
Meanwhile, another source told Trend that the statement of Kazakh Energy Ministry was "nothing more than just a statement intended to show that Kazakhstan is not so heavily dependent on Russia for the supply of fuel."
Kazakhstan buys around 30 percent of lubricants, in particular high-octane gasoline from neighboring Russia. This paves the way for the heavy dependence of Kazakh market on the Russian petroleum product market.
Kazakhstan concluded an agreement to supply 3,000 tons of AI-92 gasoline from Azerbaijan. The agreement on gasoline supply was signed in October with international Lanturno Management S.A. Company, which will carry out the delivery of the Azerbaijani fuel through the Russian territory.
Kazakhstan has already paid the full cost of the contracted oil products, but the shipping and delivery of gasoline are yet to be implemented.
Kazakh Energy Ministry said earlier that it was holding talks to supply AI-92 gasoline from Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Belarus, China and other countries.
Kazakhstan has some oil refineries, which are located in Shymkent (country`s southern part), Atyrau (western part) and Pavlodar (northern part). The total processing capacity of them is 13 million tons per year.
According to the forecasts, the gasoline production in Kazakhstan in 2014 will amount to 2,885 million metric tons, while the consumption is expected to reach 4,168 million metric tons.
Kazakhstan is currently upgrading all of its oil refineries. The process is scheduled to be completed in 2016. After the upgrade, Kazakhstan`s need in light petroleum products will be fully met.
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