Kazakh Government to impose restrictions on oil import from Russia by January 2014

ASTANA. April 22. KAZINFORM The government of Kazakhstan will impose restrictions on oil import from Russia by January 1, 2014. This has been announced by Sauat Mynbaev, the Minister of Oil and Gas, at the Government Hour in the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan.

According to the Minister, the restrictions may be under the Agreement with the Russian Federation on trade and economic cooperation relating import of oil and oil products to Kazakhstan.

Sauat Mynbaev recalled that in collaboration with the abovementioned document, along with all oil products which would be supplied from Russia till January 1, 2014, Kazakhstan will have to make counter oil delivery. The document also provides the ability to restrict the rail delivery of petroleum products from Russia to Kazakhstan.

"If not to restrict, the country will be piled by Russian oil this year. We should instead export it abroad", said Mynbaev.

He also noted that currently Kazakh refineries were not maximally loaded because of the large quantity of petroleum products in local market.