Import of Russian oil products will be same as in 2011: Mynbayev

Import of oil products from Russia to Kazakhstan will remain at the level of 2011, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Kazakhstan Minister of Oil and Gas Sauat Mynbayev. “We have a verbal agreement on the schedule of oil and oil products supplies. I signed the protocol,” the Minister said. According to Mynbayev, Russian fiscal authorities still have some questions, but should this part be approved by fiscals of both countries, then “hopefully, this issue will be more or less stabilized”. According to the Minister, Kazakhstan will import 1.6 million tons of light oil products and 7 million tons of crude oil from Russia. If economically feasible, Kazakhstan may import the remaining 1.6 million tons of light oil products from other countries. Mynbayev does not preclude the possibility of tolling in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, China or at Rompetrol. Kazakhstan oil refineries currently produce 14.2 million tons of light oil products. The market requires 1.6 million more tons. Kazakhstan will not be able to produce more oil products before full reconstruction of the refineries to be completed in 2015.