Kazakhstan is taking a fresh look at how some of its least regulated markets operate — from private detectives to fuel storage facilities — and the government says the goal is simple: protect citizens, close grey zones, and bring more transparency into the economy, DKNews.kz reports.
At a recent government meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin, members of the Interdepartmental Commission on Entrepreneurial Regulation discussed two sensitive but increasingly important areas: private detective services and the oil products market.
Private detectives: from grey zone to legal framework
One of the most debated topics was the regulatory impact analysis of private detective activity. Despite the growing demand for services such as searching for missing persons, surveillance, and evidence collection in civil and administrative cases, private detectives in Kazakhstan currently operate without clear legal regulation.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed introducing a full regulatory framework, including:
- mandatory licensing of private detectives,
- requirements for equipped and compliant workplaces,
- compulsory professional liability insurance.
According to the authorities, these measures are not about restricting business but about protecting citizens. Without legal oversight, detective work can easily cross into violations of privacy, misuse of sensitive information, or even threats to state secrecy.
Deputy Interior Minister Sanzhar Adilov stressed that licensing and insurance would significantly reduce risks of unlawful interference in private life. He compared the proposed model to the system used for private bailiffs, arguing that regulation helped create a more transparent and civilized market focused on citizens’ rights.
Public discussion of this regulatory impact analysis took place on the Open Legal Acts portal from November 27 to December 2 last year. Notably, no public objections or critical comments were submitted.
Fuel storage under scrutiny: closing loopholes in oil product accounting
The commission also reviewed the regulatory impact analysis concerning oil depots and their obligation to install control and measuring devices (CMDs).
Vice Minister of Energy Sanzhar Zharkeshov presented the progress of Kazakhstan’s gradual digitalization of oil product circulation. While oil refineries and gas stations are already required by law to use automated accounting devices, oil depots — key links in the supply chain — often remain outside the unified digital system.
This creates a serious loophole. Current legislation penalizes the sale and shipment of fuel without CMDs, but responsibility for their absence during storage at oil depots is not clearly defined. As a result, large volumes of fuel can circulate without proper tracking.
CMDs allow real-time monitoring of fuel intake, output, remaining volumes, and overall movement of petroleum products. Without them, authorities warn, the market remains vulnerable to unaccounted fuel turnover, grey schemes, and tax losses.
The issue is particularly sensitive given the price gap between Kazakhstan and neighboring countries, which reaches 40–60 percent. This disparity fuels illegal exports and shadow operations, costing the state significant tax revenue.
Officials believe mandatory installation and operation of CMDs at oil depots will enable end-to-end control of the entire fuel supply chain, strengthen government oversight, and ensure fair competition for all market participants.
What’s next?
Following the discussions, the Interdepartmental Commission approved the presented regulatory impact analyses on both issues. While this does not yet mean immediate legal changes, it signals a clear policy direction: Kazakhstan is moving toward stricter rules in areas where weak regulation has long created risks for citizens, businesses, and the state budget.
In short, the government is betting that transparency and clear rules — even in traditionally “invisible” sectors — are worth the effort.
