Olzhas Baidildinov, a Kazakh expert in the oil and gas sector as well as energy and tariff policy, believes Kazakhstan needs to prepare for possible fuel shortages on the domestic market.
Baidildinov argues that Kazakhstanis should be urged to conserve fuel, pointing to the worsening fuel supply situation in neighboring countries.
«The Ministry of Energy is making reassuring statements these days, which is entirely consistent with established practice, but I insist that the government urge citizens and the business community to conserve fuel,» he wrote on his Telegram channel.
On July 7, Kyrgyzstan announced it would stop regulating retail gasoline prices, even though the country imports 90% of its petroleum products from Russia, according to the expert. To address fuel shortages, Kyrgyzstan is currently considering alternative import sources, including diesel and aviation fuel from China, although prices and logistics costs there are higher.
Baidildinov also pointed to the situation in Russia, noting that real gasoline prices there are higher than average because large gas station chains are limiting fuel sales, while smaller stations are charging significantly more.
Citing data from Global Petrol Prices as of July 6, 2026, Baidildinov said Kazakhstan — where a liter of AI-95 gasoline (a 95-octane fuel grade) and diesel cost $0.69 and $0.73, respectively — remains among the countries with the lowest fuel prices in the region.
For comparison, a liter of AI-95 costs $0.68 in Azerbaijan, $0.94 in Russia, $1.01 in Kyrgyzstan, $1.14 in China, $1.34 in Uzbekistan and $1.72 in Ukraine.
«Our prices are once again almost half those in neighboring countries, which is certainly encouraging, but it raises the question: how long can our domestic market — which is also a semi-external market — hold up?»
Russiaэs fuel crisis began to worsen sharply in late May 2026, when a series of strikes on oil refineries and fuel depots knocked out some capacity. Refining output dropped significantly as a result, and during the high-demand season — holidays and peak agricultural work — the country reported shortages of both gasoline and diesel.
Many Russian gas stations are now restricting fuel sales as prices continue to rise. Although Russian authorities acknowledge the shortage, they still describe it as «non-critical,» and are attempting to stabilize the market by limiting gasoline exports and redistributing reserves among regions.
Meanwhile, Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry says there is no shortage of gasoline or diesel fuel in the country.
