President of Kazakhstan Tokayev announced the need to reboot the gas industry
Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev. Photo: Sergey Mamontov / RIA Novosti
The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, announced the need to carry out a qualitative reboot of the gas industry in the region in connection with protests over price increases. TASS reports.
The head of the republic proposed to introduce temporary state regulation of prices for liquefied gas, gasoline and diesel for a period of 180 calendar days, as well as to postpone a full transition to the sale of liquefied gas through electronic trading platforms and exchanges for a year.
“It is necessary to carry out a qualitative reboot of the gas industry, to ensure a full load of commercial gas on the domestic market,” the president said.
Tokayev also instructed the Prosecutor General's Office to investigate the price agreement in the sale of liquefied gas.
According to the President of Kazakhstan, responsibility for the situation in the republic lies with the government. “The government, in particular, the Ministry of Energy, as well as the KazMunayGaz and QazaqGaz companies, is especially guilty for allowing a protest situation in connection with the rise in prices for liquefied gas,” Tokayev said.
Protests in Kazakhstan against the rise in fuel prices began on January 2. In some cities, protesters called on the first president of the republic, Nursultan Nazarbayev, to withdraw from politics. On January 4, protesters clashed with security forces on Republic Square in Almaty, and riots broke out in other cities of the country.
