Kazakhstan has taken measures to prevent the illegal export of fuel across the border.
Medianews.az reports citing Tengrinews.kz that the Deputy Minister of Energy, Kaiyrkhan Tutkyshbayev, announced these measures at a government briefing.
According to the deputy minister, one of the implemented measures is the restriction on the entry of vehicles from neighboring states.
"Currently, the measure allowing trucks and passenger cars from neighboring states to enter Kazakhstan no more than once a day is in effect," said Kaiyrkhan Tutkyshbayev.
According to him, the main focus is on identifying vehicles using additional fuel tanks for the export of "gray" fuel.
The official stated that violators attempting to illegally export fuel are regularly identified in border areas.
Earlier, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov ordered increased control over the illegal export of fuel and lubricants. According to government data, within just two days, 61 attempts to export more than three tons of fuel using additional tanks and cans were prevented at checkpoints, and since the beginning of the year, 593 attempts of illegal export of petroleum products have been stopped.
Kazakh officials do not specify which country they mean when using the term "neighboring states." However, everyone knows that currently there is a fuel shortage in the Russian Federation, and many drivers from the regions bordering Kazakhstan aim to satisfy their needs by transporting fuel from Kazakhstan and also to make money by selling it at high prices.