OREANDA-NEWS. February 07, 2014. Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov chaired a conference call in Ukimet Uiy. Gas pricing was the item under consideration. The report was made by the Minister of Oil and Gas Uzakbai Karabalin and the Chairman of the Agency on Regulation of Natural Monopolies of Kazakhstan Murat Ospanov.

So, the Ministry of Oil and Gas amends the rules for determining the maximum wholesale prices of commercial and liquefied petroleum gas in the domestic market. The proposed changes are expected to reduce the cost of gas to the national operator - JSC "KazTransGas", which will affect positively the final prices of gas in the domestic market.

"In determining wholesale prices for each region there was used a separate approach on the basis of social aspects, presence or absence of gas resources, as well as the current level of gas prices," Karabalin said.

According to him, "there won't be sharp fluctuations in prices to the population."

In this regard, the Prime Minister instructed Oil and Gas Ministry to ensure introduction of uniform wholesale prices in the domestic market, Natural Monopolies Regulation Agency - to approve the methodology for calculating the price of commercial gas for regulated entities.

The second agenda item was the status of civil aviation and the prospects for its further development in accordance with the ICAO requirements.

According to the Minister, in 2017 the number of domestic flights in Kazakhstan will increase by 50%, the number of international air routes - 1.5 times. It is planned to fully complete the reconstruction of runways at airports in all regional centers that will result in 70% growth of passenger throughput in 2018.

Vice President of JSC "Air Astana" Yerbol Ospanov, President of JSC "Scat" Vladimir Denisov, head of the ICAO Technical Cooperation Bureau Orlin Tonchev delivered their reports too.

Summarizing the meeting, Akhmetov said that the Head of State regularly raised issues of flight safety, infrastructure development, use of transit potential of regional airports, and improvement of air services.

"All the issues related to the ICAO requirements are needed to be addressed. This year's task is to leave the "gray list", Akhmetov addressed Transport and Communications Ministry.