Kazakhstan’s Plan for Four New Gas Processing Plants by 2030
Kazakhstan to Commission Four Gas Processing Plants by 2030
Kazakhstan has outlined plans to gradually commission four gas processing plants between 2026 and 2030. These plants will be responsible for processing raw materials from key fields in the region, including the Kashagan field with capacities of one billion and 2.5 billion cubic meters per year, the Karachaganak field with capacities of four billion cubic meters per year, and the Kazakh gas processing plant in Zhanaozen with capacities of 900 million cubic meters per year.
Energy Minister Almassadam Satkaliyev made this announcement during a recent government meeting on July 16, which was chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. According to reports from the Prime Minister’s press service, the Qatari investor UCC Holding is actively involved in the construction of gas processing plants based on raw materials from the Kashagan field, with final project agreements being finalized between QazaqGaz national company and UCC Holding.
In recent years, Kazakhstan’s gas industry has shown steady growth. The production plan for 2024 is set at 60.5 billion cubic meters, marking a 2.3% increase from the previous year. Large fields such as Karachaganak, Tengiz, and Kashagan have been driving this growth, with gas production reaching 30 billion cubic meters in the first half of 2024, nearly 50% of the annual target.
Commercial gas production in Kazakhstan reached 29.8 billion cubic meters in 2023, with a similar target set for 2024. By mid-2024, 14.9 billion cubic meters were already produced, meeting half of the annual plan, with 19.4 billion cubic meters supplied to the domestic market in 2023. Additionally, the production volume of liquefied petroleum gas in 2023 was 1.6 million tons, with a target of 1.6 million tons for 2024.
Prime Minister Bektenov highlighted the issue of liquefied petroleum gas flow to neighboring countries, emphasizing the need to curb illegal exports and strengthen enforcement measures. Kazakhstan’s forecast gas balance predicts a significant increase in commercial gas generation from 22.5 billion cubic meters in 2023 to an anticipated 36.6 billion cubic meters by 2030.
To attract investment in new gas fields, QazaqGaz and Chevron have signed an agreement for joint geological exploration at the Zhalibek site in the Aktobe Region. Additionally, strategic infrastructure projects are in the pipeline to ensure uninterrupted gas supply, including the expansion of gas pipelines like the Beineu-Bozoi-Shymkent line and the Aktobe-Kostanai and Taldykorgan-Usharal pipelines.
With efforts to maximize the country’s gas transit potential, Kazakhstan has initiated the transit of Russian gas to Uzbekistan, aiming to increase the volume from 1.28 billion cubic meters in 2023 to 3.8 billion cubic meters in 2024. Plans are also underway to enhance the transit of Turkmen and Uzbek gas to China, with discussions ongoing regarding increasing Russian gas transit to the Kyrgyz Republic.
Overall, Kazakhstan’s gas sector is undergoing significant development and expansion, with a focus on increasing production, enhancing infrastructure, and maximizing transit opportunities for regional energy cooperation.
