Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 21 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
Kazakhstan does not exclude a possibility of agreements on tolling operations (crude oil processing in another country and its return to the country after processing) in Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, China and at European refineries of Rompetrol Group owned by Kazakh National Company KazMunaiGas in 2012, Kazakh Oil and Gas Minister Sauat Mynbayev said on Tuesday, Novosti-Kazakhstan reported.
In late 2011 Russia restricted oil supplies to Kazakhstan. These restriction provoked high-antiknock fuel deficit in Kazakhstan. The main producer of high-antiknock fuel in the country - Pavlodar plant - due to its specifications produce such kind from Russian crude oil, rather than Kazakh. Thus, at that time Mynbayev proposed to make tolling operations at Russian refineries to ensure the high-antiknock fuel needs of the Kazakh domestic market.
On Tuesday, after the governmental meeting, Mynbayev told reporters that the tolling operation can be realized not only in Russia but in some other countries.
"Tolling operations may be realized with China, perhaps Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan or at Rompetrol refineries," Mynbayev told reporters.
Mynbayev said that Kazakh refineries produce light oil products from 14.2 million tons of crude oil. However, Kazakhstan needs 1.6 million tons of light oil more, which can be produced in Kazakhstan only following refineries reconstruction.
At present, Kazakhstan exports missing oil products from Russia.
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