Kazakhstan plans to establish four gas processing plants by 2030
Kazakhstan plans to commission four gas processing plants gradually from 2026 to 2030. These plants will process raw materials from the Kashagan field, which has capacities of one billion and 2.5 billion cubic meters per year, the Karachaganak field, which has capacities of four billion cubic meters per year, and the Kazakh gas processing plant in Zhanaozen, which has capacities of 900 million cubic meters per year.
Kazakhstan's gas industry has shown consistent growth in recent years. The production target for 2024 is set at 60.5 billion cubic meters, reflecting a 2.3% increase from 2023. In the first half of 2024, production reached 30 billion cubic meters, nearly half of the annual goal, primarily driven by major fields like Karachaganak, Tengiz, and Kashagan.
In 2023, commercial gas production was 29.8 billion cubic meters, with the same target for 2024. By mid-2024, 14.9 billion cubic meters were produced, meeting 50% of the yearly plan. Out of this, 19.4 billion cubic meters were supplied to the domestic market in 2023.
The production of liquefied petroleum gas in 2023 was 1.6 million tons, with the same target for 2024. By the first half of 2024, 0.8 million tons were produced, achieving 53.3% of the annual target.
Bektenov raised concerns about the flow of liquefied petroleum gas to neighboring countries, as valuable raw materials for petrochemicals are increasingly used as automobile fuel. Retail prices for liquefied gas in Kazakhstan are about twice as low as in Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and non-CIS countries, leading to significant illegal exports to neighboring states. The Prime Minister has instructed relevant agencies to combat this "gray" export and consider establishing criminal liability.
Kazakhstan's gas forecast indicates a steady increase in commercial gas production, projected to rise 1.6 times from 22.5 billion cubic meters in 2023 to an expected 36.6 billion cubic meters by 2030.
QazaqGaz and Chevron have signed an agreement for joint geological exploration at the Zhalibek site in the Aktobe Region to attract investment in new gas fields.
By the end of 2023, around 60% of Kazakhstan's population, or approximately 12 million people, had access to gas. To ensure reliable gas supply, large strategic infrastructure projects are planned, including the second line of the Beineu-Bozoi-Shymkent gas pipeline and the Aktobe-Kostanai and Taldykorgan-Usharal pipelines.
Efforts are also underway to maximize the country's gas transit potential. In October 2023, gas transit from Russia to Uzbekistan commenced, with 1.28 billion cubic meters transported that year. The target for 2024 is to increase this to 3.8 billion cubic meters, aiming for 11 billion cubic meters annually in the future.(Source:astanatimes)
