Falling oil prices have the potential to cause further political instability and to strain Kazakhstan's energy-dependent finances. On January 16 Astana announced that it was revising its budgets for 2015-17 to mirror an oil price of 50 dollars per barrel. The current 2015-17 budget is based on an oil price of 80 dollars per barrel. In 2015 Kazakhstan will produce 80.5 million tonnes of oil or about 1.86 million barrels per day (b/d), according to Energy Minister Vladimir Shkolnik.
Low price may hamper government's plans to conduct geological operations and limit future upstream projects investments.
Social unrest in Mangistau province and other areas of western Kazakhstan remains a risk.
Domestic petrol price may increase as Kazakhstan still imports a third of its demand from Russia.
