Turkmenistan introduces new oil product supply rules from July

Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, March 28 / Trend H.Hasanov / President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed a decree on the adjustment of the supply of gasoline and diesel fuel to the population, the Ministry of Oil and Mineral Resources said on Wednesday. This is a free supply of gasoline and diesel fuel to owners of cars with a total mass of up to 3.5 tons and no more than eight passenger seats, not including the driver, as well as for owners of motorcycles. The rules will come into effect from July this year. The implementation of coupons for the second half of 2012 will begin as in previous years, in late June. From this time the supply of free vacation fuel for those who have not received coupons in the first half of the year stops. According to the information, the state has allocated to owners of vehicles free limit of gasoline and diesel fuel for the fourth year in a row. This is done as part of the state support of the population which, in addition to fuel, provides citizens with free use of gas, electricity, water and salt, until 2030. 'Free supply on coupons on gasoline and diesel fuel according to the established norms of the owners of private vehicles was introduced in February 2008. It represents the next stage of price liberalisation aimed at improving the quality of life and the state guarantees to ensure the interests of its citizens, creating conditions for a normal life and development', a statement said. It is also noted that the state at that time took an unprecedented step to offer a free fuel limit. This was allocated until recently to owners of not only cars, but all types of trucks, as well as the owners of passenger buses and all types of tractors. As a means of social protection, coupons for free gasoline and diesel fuel were issued solely for owners of vehicles for personal use. 'However testing has shown that individuals without a licence for works associated with the transport of goods are using an limited amount of fuel (2400 litres per year) not for personal use, but for commercial activities. According to the decree of 9 March 2012, owners of trucks will refuel their vehicles at commercial prices', the statement said. In Turkmenistan, the annual increase in the number of personal vehicles is 12 percent. However, despite this, the price of petrol in the country for several years, remain unchanged. At present, Turkmenistan, according to foreign agencies, such as Germany's GTZ and the U.S. The Christian Science Monitor, ranks fourth the world among countries with the cheapest gasoline. Turkmenistan plans to increase capacity of oil refining in 2015 up to 15 million tons per year, in 2020 - up to 20 million tons, in 2025 - up to 22 million tons, in 2030 - up to 30 million tons. At this stage, the country annually produces about 10 million tons of oil, much of which is processed in local factories.