Nazarbayev’s comments, delivered somewhat nervously in a video address posted on his website, sought to scotch widespread suggestions of a power struggle between him and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

As hydrocarbons make up over 20 percent of Kazakhstan’s GDP, it became a priority to restore oil production to normal levels.

The rise in the oil sector was 1.8 percent, while the non-oil sector grew by 7.2 percent.