Significant Gas Price Hike Leads to Riots in Kazakhstan

My Geek Score: Kazakhstan’s oil rich witnessed the mass protest in three major cities, i.e., Almaty, Mangystau, and Nur Sultan of the country, especially in Almaty on Tuesday.

The riot causes an emergency in Kazakhstan throughout the nation and will follow until January 19th January 2022. 

In addition, transport limitations and activity restrictions will also be followed in the three significant cities and 14 regions. 

The riots in Kazakhstan severely exploded when the residents felt a significant spike in LPG prices from 20 Kazakhstani tenges to 40 Kazakhstani tenges. 

The primary concern of the localities was that they had converted their cars from diesel and petrol to LPG due to cost-effectiveness. 

Government’s uptake on the surged fuel prices

Local media confirmed that the protests in Kazakhstan – the world’s largest Muslim majority country, damaged the three economically important cities of the country, one being the Mangystau. 

Plus, public buildings and local administration offices were also under protesters’ aim.  

In addition, three civilians, eight police officers, and 317 personnel officers lost their lives in the protests, and many were bruised throughout the whole country. 

On the contrary, instead of worrying about the nation’s security, the Kazakhstan Government Resigns amid the protests. 

However, President Tokayev took the meeting with journalists on January 5th, 2022, and said that it is his responsibility to take care of the country’s security and re-introduce controlled fuel prices. 

Why was there a sudden spike in LPG prices? 

The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices hike is not overnight. It all began in 2019 when LPG’s s use was instigated in electronic trading. 

The original idea was to reinforce the 100% LPG trading online with industries and other sectors. 

Online electronic trading leads to fuel prices, especially in higher demand—for example, Nur Sultan and Almaty. 

Although the country is oil rich, poverty is still prevailing. 

Therefore, the rise in LPG prices affected food transport and other daily activities involving shifting goods from urban to rural areas, and residents felt betrayed and untwisted by the riots.