During the meeting, the Head of State was informed about the current state of the fuel market and modernization of oil refineries.
Nursultan Nazarbayev noted that fuel shortage in the country is the result of untimely measures taken by the Cabinet and Energy Ministry to provide the market with fuel and lubricants.
- Energy Ministry is responsible for the issues of the country's fuel and energy complex, providing the domestic market with fuels and lubricants included. The deficit situation in the country showed that the Government and Energy Ministry are negligent and irresponsible. In May, you signed a refinery repair schedule. Moreover, you knew that in autumn two of the three plants enter upon repairs. Each year the similar things take place. Once you knew about this, you were meant to get prepared and get the appropriate quantity of energy carriers to provide fuel and lubricants. This has not been done, the President of Kazakhstan said.
In addition, the Head of State pointed to the low effectiveness of measures previously taken by the Ministry to stabilize the situation on the fuel market.
- You put forward quite a number of good initiatives, supported by me and the Cabinet. There was a request to abolish the state regulation of prices in order to avoid a fuel shortage. However, the market is again short of fuel. In this regard, at the Cabinet’s suggestion, I reprimanded you. In addition, this is tantamount to dismissal, Nursultan Nazarbayev said.
Kanat Bozumbaev also reported to the President of Kazakhstan on the progress of modernizing Pavlodar and Atyrau refineries.
- The modernization of two refineries is near completion this year. In November it is in the planning stage to launch Pavlodar plant. Atyrau refinery is expected to be completed by December 16. This is the first time that a catalytic cracking unit will be used, thereby it is planned to ramp up the volume of petroleum products and improve their quality, the Energy Minister said.
Kanat Bozumbaev informed the Head of the State about plans for building a catalytic cracking unit at Shymkent oil refinery as well, which will also allow production of high-octane gasoline.
The Energy Minister assured Nursultan Nazarbayev that next year Kazakhstan's market would have high-quality fuel, including aviation fuel.
At the end of the meeting, the President of Kazakhstan once again recalled the responsibility for providing the fuel market and instructed to take all appropriate measures to prevent a fuel shortage.
