Olzhas Baidildinov, an expert in the oil and gas sector, energy and tariff policy, believes that Kazakhstan needs to prepare in advance for a possible increase in the burden on the domestic petroleum products market. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Baidildinov insists that Kazakh citizens should be urged to save fuel.

"The Ministry of Energy is making reassuring statements these days, which is consistent with established practice, but I insist that the Government call on citizens and the business community to save fuel," he wrote on his Telegram channel.

The expert links his concerns to the situation in neighboring countries, where fuel supply problems continue to intensify.

One of the latest decisions was the cessation of state regulation of retail gasoline prices in Kyrgyzstan. Since July 7, the country's authorities have abolished maximum prices for AI-95.

According to Baidildinov, Kyrgyzstan is approximately 90% dependent on petroleum product supplies from Russia. The republic is now considering alternative import sources, including supplies of diesel and aviation fuel from China, where product costs and logistics expenses are higher.

According to the expert, Kyrgyzstan is de facto already experiencing a fuel shortage, as the country is urgently trying to establish supplies from other states.

He also drew attention to the situation in Russia. According to him, real gasoline prices there are higher than average, as large gas station chains limit fuel sales, and small filling stations sell it significantly more expensive.

Citing data from the Global Petrol Prices resource as of July 6, 2026, Olzhas Baidildinov noted that Kazakhstan remains one of the countries with the lowest fuel prices in the region.

The cost of a liter of AI-95 gasoline in Kazakhstan is $0.69, diesel fuel – $0.73.

For comparison, in Azerbaijan AI-95 costs $0.68, in Russia – $0.94, in Kyrgyzstan – $1.01, in China – $1.14, in Uzbekistan – $1.34, and in Ukraine – $1.72 per liter.

This price ratio pleases the expert, but also makes him wonder whether the Kazakh market will hold up:

"Our prices are again almost 2 times cheaper than neighboring countries, which cannot but rejoice, but the question arises: how long will our domestic market, which is also a semi-external market, hold out?"

The fuel crisis in Russia began to sharply escalate in late May 2026, when a series of strikes on oil refineries and oil depots led to the shutdown of some capacity. Against this background, oil refining noticeably declined, and during the high-demand season – during holidays and active agricultural work – the domestic market faced a shortage of gasoline and diesel.

Now the situation looks like this: many gas stations are introducing restrictions on fuel sales, in some regions gasoline is sold only on a "one hand" limit, and prices continue to rise. Russian authorities acknowledge the shortage but call it "non-critical" and are trying to stabilize the market through restrictions on gasoline exports and redistribution of reserves between regions.

The Ministry of Energy previously stated that there is no shortage of gasoline and diesel fuel in Kazakhstan. According to the department, fuel reserves meet standards, and the situation on the domestic market remains stable.

Drivers from Russia were allowed to refuel in Kazakhstan, but with one condition: read here.