Prime Minister - Since January 1, 2009 export custom duty to impose all subsoil users, excluding those, with which contracts are ratified by the Parliament

/INTERFAX-KAZAKHSTAN, Astana, June 3, 08/ - In Kazakhstan, since January 1, 2009 export custom duty will be imposed on all subsoil users, excluding those, with which contracts are ratified by the Parliament, Karim Masimov, the Prime Minister of republic announced. "If new Tax Code will be supported, than beginning January 1, 2009 any subsoil users company in Kazakhstan must pay tax on mineral recourses production and must pay export custom duty on it (oil - IF-K), if their contracts are not ratified by the Parliament" - he said, making public speech on senate plenary session of government on Tuesday in Astana. Prime Minister also explained that "in New Tax Code subsoil users taxation will be regulated firstly by Tax Code itself, but not contracts, which were signed before". "During this year we made it (introduce export custom duty on oil - IF-K) for those companies, which are not closed by agreement on production separation. Next year if you will support us with Tax Code, we again review this question wit the purpose to cover wider circle of participants of export duties" - K.Masimov told. "Today in effective legal field, introduced custom duty develop to 30% of companies. As we put custom duty into effect by government resolution, such condition will be retained till the end of this year. Since January 1, 2009 if you will support us with Tax Code, the situation change significantly" - K.Masimov said. As informed, in Kazakhstan custom duty on oil export came into effect on May 17. The rate of custom duty on crude oil export is determined in amount of $109.91 per ton and $27.43 per ton for payers of rent tax on export crude oil and gas condensate. The rate of custom duty on export of heavy distillate (liquid fuel), coke and petroleum bitumen is determined in amount of $82.2 per ton. Originally Kazakhstan Ministry of Finance explained that according to introduced regulations, export duty is not expand on Tengizshevroil (digging Tengiz and Korolevskoe oilfields) and Karachaganak Petroleum Operating (digging Karachaganak oilfield) "in which contracts there is stability". Meanwhile, by the end of May Bolat Zhamishev, the Minister of Finance marked that he doesn't exclude introduction of export custom duty on oil since 2009 for subsoil users in which contracts there is a stable tax regime. Today in republic in compliance with instruction of the head of government there is elaboration of new Tax Code which will come into effect since January 1, 2009. [2008-06-03]