Key facts
- Kazakhstan has extended its ban on exporting petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel, until May 22, 2025.
- The ban aims to address gasoline shortages in Russia and prevent illicit fuel imports.
- New border measures include police checkpoints and daily crossing limits for vehicles.
- Kazakh officials intercepted three tons of fuel intended for smuggling.
- The export ban applies to Eurasian Economic Union members, though humanitarian exceptions are possible.
Kazakhstan has extended its ban on the export of petroleum products, including gasoline and diesel, by six months until May 22 of next year. This decision comes as Russia faces gasoline shortages due to Ukrainian drone attacks on its energy infrastructure, leading to increased cross-border fuel purchases by Russian vehicles.
To combat this 'gasoline tourism' and illicit exports, Kazakh authorities have implemented new measures, including police checkpoints along the border with Russia and restrictions on daily vehicle crossings. Officials have also reported intercepting significant volumes of fuel intended for smuggling.
The extended ban applies even to fellow members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), although potential exceptions for humanitarian aid or government-decided supplies are noted. Kyrgyzstan, another EAEU member, has reportedly requested a waiver from the ban due to its own reliance on disrupted Russian oil supplies.
Kazakh officials have also disputed reports suggesting Russia was seeking to import Kazakh gas. The broader energy market faces uncertainty, with tensions in the Strait of Hormuz potentially disrupting tanker traffic.