Kazakhstan oil refinery to process Russian crude, send gasoline back to Russia

Kazakhstan's Kondensat oil refinery has agreed to process Russian crude and export the resulting gasoline and diesel fuel back to Russia, according to Erlan Aqkenjenov, head of the country's Energy Ministry. The Russian firm holds a 50% stake in the refinery, though Aqkenjenov did not disclose its name. He confirmed that Kazakhstan's authorities received an official letter from Russia's Energy Ministry outlining the loading of Russian oil into the refinery.

Aqkenjenov stated that 30% of the gasoline and diesel fuel produced at the refinery will remain within Kazakhstan, while the remaining 70% will be sent to Russia. He assured that there are no apparent obstacles to the agreement, given the absence of sanctions. The Kondensat refinery, constructed at the Karachaganak field, was designed to supply diesel fuel and gasoline to the West Kazakhstan Region and had a capacity of 850,000 metric tons (937,000 tons) per year by 2017.

The refinery's agreement to process Russian crude comes amid a new surge in fuel shortages in Russia since August, following Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. Gasoline and diesel fuel are currently scarce in many regions, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, leading to a sharp rise in prices at stations with fuel.

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