Kazakhstan will prioritise national interests over those of the OPEC+ group when deciding on oil production levels, the country's newly appointed energy minister told Reuters, ratcheting up the standoff with the group.

Kazakhstan is fulfilling its OPEC+ obligations and has an ongoing dialogue with the group to find “mutually acceptable solutions” to its oil production management, said Energy Minister Erlan Akkenzhenov.

Oil markets have been jittery since early April, when the producers’ group led by Saudi Arabia stunned traders by accelerating the revival in its output.