Kazakhstan Not To Export Gasoline

Kazakh Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov has signed a decree to extend a ban on export of gasoline, diesel and aviatic oil to Feb. 28, Kazakh official media reported on Thursday.

It is the third time for the central Asian country to extend the ban, which, implemented since July 1, was initially expected to end on Oct. 15.

When the initial ban expired on Oct. 15, Kazakhstan extended itto Dec. 31 in a bid to countercheck the hike of fuel price. Later, the government decided to prolong the ban again to Feb. 7.

The price of Kazakh oil has dropped recently. The price of No. 92 oil in Alma-ata, the biggest city of Kazakhstan, is below 62 tenge (0.47 U.S. dollar) per liter.

With a population of 15 million, Kazakhstan produces 60 million tons of crude annually and processes about 10 million tons.