Kazakhstan is set to increase the average price of commercial natural gas by 33% beginning July 1, as authorities move to strengthen the country’s energy infrastructure and prepare for the upcoming heating season.

The announcement was made by Vice Minister of Energy Kaiyrkhan Tutkyshbayev during a briefing, The Caspian Post reports via Orda.kz.

The country has experienced a decline in gas production in recent months due to technical disruptions at several major fields, including the Tengiz oil and gas field. Despite the production slowdown, domestic demand has continued to be met through transit volumes supplied by national gas operator QazaqGaz.

According to the Energy Ministry, the price increase is necessary to ensure reliable gas supplies during the winter months and to finance the modernization and replacement of aging gas infrastructure.

The government expects the higher gas tariffs to have a limited impact on the broader economy. Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin estimated that the increase could add around 0.2% to the country's inflation rate.