07-08-00 A government commission, headed by Deputy Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov, is currently developing measures to ensure a systematic supply of feedstock to domestic refineries. According to the Agency for the Regulation of Natural Monopolies, Defence of Competition and Support of Small Business Deputy Chairman Serik Kurmangaliyev, one solution under consideration is to require that oil production companies ship a certain quota of crude to domestic refineries.
The anti-monopoly agency has suggested that the government add one clause to previously concluded government contracts with oil companies that would impose a feedstock quota for domestic refineries, especially during the sowing and harvesting campaigns. For its part, the government would guarantee fixed export quotas for crude oil to oil companies. Anti-monopoly agency officials believe such a move would not be in contravention to Kazakhstani legislation.