Russia plans to import gasoline from Kazakhstan - Reuters

Russia is negotiating with Kazakhstan regarding the import of AI-92 gasoline to mitigate a domestic market deficit caused by refinery shutdowns and unscheduled repairs. Reuters reports this, as conveyed by UNN.

Russia is negotiating with Kazakhstan regarding the import of approximately 50,000 metric tons of AI-92 gasoline to mitigate a domestic market deficit caused by refinery shutdowns and unscheduled repairs

It is noted that the shutdown of several large refineries in central Russia due to Ukrainian drone attacks led to a reduction in gasoline production at the end of June by approximately 25% compared to the same period last year.

Kazakhstan's Energy Minister, Erlan Akkenzhenov, previously stated that Astana had not received an official request from Moscow regarding gasoline supplies.

The Russian government is considering measures to stabilize the market, including restricting fuel exports, increasing subsidies for refineries, and imports - an unusual step for one of the world's largest fuel exporters.

This month, Moscow allowed refineries to produce gasoline and diesel fuel for the domestic market with lower quality requirements. Russia also plans to import gasoline by sea, underscoring the seriousness of the situation. Kazakhstan is a relatively small fuel producer compared to Russia, and according to sources, supply volumes are unlikely to be significant

Sources note that Kazakhstan currently has a surplus of gasoline, but maintenance at the Atyrau refinery from June 26 to July 20 will reduce available stocks.

One possible source is the Kazakh refinery "Kondensat," which processes gas condensate from the Russian plant "TANECO" and has fuel export quotas. According to the Kazakh analytical center for fuel and energy, in May 2026, "Kondensat" exported 15,207 tons of AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline to Georgia

However, the "TANECO" plant, owned by the Russian company "Tatneft," completely halted oil refining on June 12 after a drone attack, potentially limiting the supply of raw materials for the "Kondensat" plant.

A source in Kazakhstan noted that gasoline supplies to Russia could be possible in exchange for Russian aviation fuel.

According to industry sources, in July, Kazakhstan will face a shortage of aviation fuel due to rising demand, maintenance at the Atyrau plant, and reduced imports from Russia.

Recall

The head of "Rosneft," Igor Sechin, reported to Vladimir Putin about an "unprecedented number of damages" to Russian refineries as a result of Ukrainian strikes and proposed a series of measures to stabilize the fuel market.