Shymkent experiences petrol shortage

Petrol has not been supplied to Shymkent fuel stations for over ten days, Tengrinews.kz reports. Due to the shortages the fueling stations are receiving only half the normal amount of petrol. The fuel shortage is caused by Shymkent refinery not producing petrol for over a month. According to chairman of Shymkent fuel stations owners' association Kaipbek Kambarov, the refinery has suspended operations for one month for capital repairs in October, but has not restarted operations since. The fuel stations' owners have received letters from PetroKazakhstan Oil Products saying that there will be no fuel supplies in Shymkent until the end of November. Normally South Kazakhstan receives 8.3 thousand tons of petrol a month and almost 90 percent of this fuel is produced by Shymkent refinery.Only 80 of 126 fuel stations are currently operating in Shymkent.