Kazakhstan’s Qurultay has ratified a protocol renewing an intergovernmental agreement with Russia on oil and petroleum product supplies.

The protocol extends the agreement until January 1, 2028, while preserving the existing mechanism for annual coordination of supply balances and information exchange between the competent authorities of the two countries, KazTAG reports.

It also maintains the possibility of importing petroleum products from Russia without customs duties.

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said the agreement is important for the country’s energy security and the stable supply of the domestic market.

The minister said that the mechanism will allow Kazakhstan to respond more quickly to potential shortages of specific types of fuel.

Kazakhstan originally ratified the agreement in 2013, but it expired on January 1, 2024. The protocol restoring its operation was signed by Kazakhstan and Russia in Astana on November 27, 2024.

The renewed agreement is expected to provide an additional mechanism for coordinating fuel supplies between the two countries through 2027.