Neighboring Kazakhstan has stopped exporting liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to China.
This is because demonstrations over the sharp rise in LPG prices in western Kazakhstan have spread nationwide, and Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokaev maintains peace as a government with an ally of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) supported by Russia. It was after calling for the dispatch of troops. Security forces have curbed ongoing anxiety.
Uzbekistan, a 34 million country bordering Kazakhstan, canceled all LPG exports to China after the country’s President Shav Katmirjiyoev first pointed out public dissatisfaction with fuel shortages in August 2021. do.
Kazakhstan officials said the initially calm and peaceful protests formed part of a hybrid terrorist attack aimed at using this issue to launch an attack on the government. This is despite unconfirmed reports on social media stating that many Kazakhs do not.
A representative of the Uzbekistan Department of Energy said the country is no longer sending gas abroad, Reported Eurasianet..
“Gas exports have been completely shut down and all gas is directed to domestic consumers in the county,” said a representative of the Uzbekistan Department of Energy.
Uzbekistan in 2021 Estimated It produces about 53.8 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas for domestic and international consumption, and about 4 bcm of LPG (equivalent to an estimated $ 600 million) is sent directly to China.
Uzbekistan had previously blocked fuel exports to communist countries in 2020 after the government stopped exporting during the 2020 pandemic.
The news of the Moratorium on LPG exports comes after President Milziyoev admitted in August last year that the country was dissatisfied with the government after importing 917 million cubic meters of fuel into the country. Reported Gazeta.ru..
“This is a big number,” said Milziyoev. “We import and pay using foreign currency.”
“People are very dissatisfied with us. [problems] With electricity, especially gas, “said President Uzbekistan.
LPG is the main fuel used by Uzbek automobiles nationwide, with an estimated 60% of all Uzbek automobiles using LPG as a fuel source. However, during the winter, it is also required for heating purposes, which can lead to fuel shortages.
However, this is not the first time the Uzbeks have been dissatisfied with the government’s treatment of the country’s fuel supply. Between November 2019 and November 2020, the Uzbeks made many protests against the government’s failure to repair its aging and failed gas industry. Radio Free Europe reported..
follow
Victoria Kelly-Clark is an Australian-based reporter focusing on the national political and geopolitical environment of the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East and Central Asia.