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Kazakhstan's Prime Minister, Olzhas Bektenov, has issued a directive to prevent fuel prices and tariffs from significantly impacting inflation following the expiration of a moratorium. This move aims to stabilize the economy and protect citizens from rising costs.

Ensuring Price Stability

Prime Minister Bektenov emphasized that tariff policies must align with inflation targets and remain predictable. He has tasked relevant government bodies with ensuring that any price increases do not substantially accelerate the overall inflation rate.

Strengthening Market Oversight

The Prime Minister also addressed the broader market landscape, highlighting the necessity for systematic demonopolization and enhanced anti-monopoly oversight in sectors such as food, fuel, transportation, and utilities.

The Ministry of National Economy, Ministry of Energy, and Ministry of Industry and Construction have been specifically instructed to implement measures to prevent fuel prices and tariffs from having a considerable effect on the general inflation level now that the moratorium has concluded.

In line with this, Bektenov directed the Ministry of National Economy, in collaboration with the Agency for Protection of Competition and Development and relevant sectoral ministries, to continue efforts in demonopolizing markets and strengthening oversight.

Understanding the Moratorium

A temporary moratorium on fuel price increases was initially introduced in Kazakhstan in October 2025. The core principle of this moratorium was to fix the retail prices for AI-92 gasoline and diesel fuel at the levels existing at each gas station as of October 16, 2025. No single unified price cap was established.

As a result, a price range emerged at major gas station networks. The decision to implement the moratorium was made in conjunction with the Agency for Protection of Competition and Development, with the government's stance against further price hikes communicated to market participants. The Ministry of Energy, regional headquarters under the akimats, and market participants were tasked with monitoring compliance.

Experts note that AI-92 gasoline remains the primary fuel for many Kazakh citizens, as a significant portion of the country's vehicle fleet uses cars designed for this grade. Consequently, any fluctuation in its cost directly affects the population's living standards and the national inflation rate.