Kazakhstan has introduced stricter border measures to curb the illegal export of fuel and lubricants, including limiting foreign cargo and passenger vehicles to one entry per day and intensifying inspections for vehicles fitted with unauthorized additional fuel tanks, TengriNews reported.
Deputy Energy Minister Kairkhan Tutkishbayev said the measures form part of a broader government effort to prevent fuel smuggling and protect domestic fuel supplies.
Speaking at a government briefing, Tutkishbayev said authorities are focusing on identifying vehicles equipped with additional fuel tanks used to transport fuel illegally across the border.
The operation involves the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Financial Monitoring Agency, the Border Service, and customs authorities.
According to the deputy minister, law enforcement agencies regularly detect attempts to smuggle fuel from border regions, with all available measures being deployed to stop the illegal export of petroleum products.
Earlier, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov instructed authorities to strengthen oversight of illegal fuel exports.
Government data shows that border officials prevented 61 smuggling attempts involving more than 3 tons of fuel stored in additional tanks and canisters in just two days at border checkpoints.
Since the beginning of the year, authorities have stopped 593 cases of illegal petroleum product exports.
In May, Kazakhstan's Ministry of Internal Affairs also reported identifying vehicles fitted with unauthorized additional fuel tanks intended for exporting gasoline. Administrative penalties were imposed, and the vehicles were impounded until the violations were corrected.
The crackdown comes as Kazakhstan adjusts its fuel supply policy amid regional market pressures. Earlier, the government announced plans to remove import duties on certain fuel imports, primarily from China, to help stabilize domestic supplies following fuel shortages in neighboring Russia.
