Kazakhstan investigates gasoline quality after driver complaintsKazakhstan's Ministry of Trade and Integration is testing automotive gasoline following a wave of complaints from motorists, the ministry said."Arbitration samples taken from the Pavlodar petrochemical plant have been sent to an independent lab," the ministry said Thursday. Additional samples are being analyzed from Sinoil, QazaqOil and Helios filling stations. Results are expected within a week.The ministry is processing 12 complaints, including nine from Astana, one from Pavlodar and two from the North Kazakhstan region.Inspectors have also made test purchases at 17 filling stations in Almaty, the Almaty and Zhambyl regions and the Abai region. Those samples are also undergoing lab analysis.The investigation covers fuel quality at production points and throughout the supply chain, including storage depots, the ministry said. Violations will trigger enforcement actions, including sales bans and product seizures.Motorists have reported a surge of engine problems in recent days, mostly linked to mostly linked to high-octane AI-95 and AI-98 gasoline.Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said Tuesday he sent his deputy, Kairkhan Tutkyshbaev, and a technical regulation official to the Pavlodar plant on Aug. 24 to inspect for possible quality issues.The minister said the situation is under close watch and that fresh gasoline shipments from the Atyrau refinery are expected in the coming days. "We need to be patient for a few days. New batches are on the way," he said.Akkenzhenov acknowledged a disruption in fuel output. "Filling stations are blaming the plant, and the plant is blaming the filling stations. We will get to the bottom of it and settle the matter shortly," he said. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX