The Ministry of Energy has confirmed the development of a new energy infrastructure, with the construction of an oil refinery that will raise the country’s refining capacity to 40 million tons per year.
The oil refinery and energy sovereignty
Under the leadership of Deputy Minister Kaiyrkhan Tutkyshbayev, it has been established that the future facility will operate with an individual capacity of 10 million tons of crude oil each year. The implementation schedule will formally start in 2026 with the necessary technical and economic feasibility studies to determine the optimal geographical location.
State specialists are currently analyzing raw material supply sources and regional demand projections to ensure the long-term profitability of the investment.
In an intermediate stage covering the years 2028 and 2030 the government will implement upgrades at the three existing power plants in Pavlodar, Shymkent and Atyrau. These technical interventions are designed to reduce the current aviation fuel deficit that is affecting national logistics. It is also projected that the diesel shortage will be completely eliminated before the new industrial complex comes into operation.
Once the processing network becomes fully operational in 2033, the energy scenario will change dramatically. The authorities anticipate that the availability of surplus gasoline and diesel will facilitate the opening of new marketing channels to neighboring countries. The strategy is not limited to the volume of production but encompasses the quality of the distillates obtained through highly efficient technological processes.
The commitment to sustainability is reflected in the adoption of the K5 standard for all fuels produced at the future plant. This environmental standard is aligned with the strictest international requirements, reducing the ecological impact of the combustion processes. The processing depth at the new unit is expected to reach 95 %, exceeding the current average for operating facilities.
The development of this project represents a paradigm shift in the economic dynamics of the Kazakh extractive sector. The transition from being a simple raw material supplier to becoming a high value-added manufacturing center is the absolute priority. Technological modernization will enable the country to maintain a competitive edge in hydrocarbon markets for decades to come.
Source: The CaspianPost
Photo: tengrinews.kz