Astana, Kazakhstan, Sept. 19
By Daniar Mukhtarov - Trend:
Kazakhstan needs to have sources of oil products supply other than Russia, Director General of KazEnergy Association Asset Magauov told reporters Sept. 19.
"Kazakhstan, as represented by the national company KazMunaiGas, should study the issue of diversifying the sources of fuel and lubricants supply, in order to protect itself in the future from such force majeure situations as those faced by Russia this year, where we have been traditionally buying the missing volumes of oil products," Magauov said.
He said Kazakhstan exported from Russia about 30 percent of the consumed fuels and lubricants, but due to an accident at Russia's largest Achinsk Oil Refinery, and because of deliveries to the Crimea, Russia itself is facing an oil products shortage.
Magauov added that the prices of oil products dramatically rose in Russia due to the mentioned reasons.
"KazMunaiGas is currently holding talks with Azerbaijani and Turkmen companies. And this is the right decision, as we always need to have alternative sources of fuel and lubricants," he said.
He added that the shortage of fuel and lubricants in Kazakhstan stands at about one million metric tons.
"The bulk of the missing volume of oil products will be brought, of course, from Russia, and the rest from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan," Magauov said.
However he did not indicate the exact amount of supplies from each country.
Magauov said the fuel and lubricants from Azerbaijan will be delivered through the Caspian Sea, and by railway from Turkmenistan.
"The shortage of fuel and lubricants will be eliminated following the reconstruction of three oil refineries, which should be completed after 2016," he added.
Edited by CN
