ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 28. During a working trip to Shymkent, the Chairman of the Board of KazMunayGas (KMG) Askhat Khassenov visited the Shymkent Oil Refinery (PKOP, PetroKazakhstan Oil Products), Trend reports.
In the course the meeting, the performance indicators for 2025 were discussed, as well as the refinery’s long-term development strategy. It was noted that PKOP (PetroKazakhstan Oil Products) has been tasked with increasing its annual processing volume to 6.2 million tons and increasing the production of diesel fuel against the background of a gasoline surplus in the country.
Focused emphasis was directed towards inventory optimization and the deployment of a strategic initiative aimed at augmenting operational efficacy.
“The status of the PKOP expansion project to 12 million tons per year was discussed in detail. At present, the framework agreement for the project implementation is being coordinated, after which the stage of developing the feasibility study (FS) will begin. Issues of land allocation and infrastructure provision (water, electricity, and gas) are being addressed. The possibility of creating a product pipeline from Shymkent to Almaty for transporting finished petroleum products (gasoline, diesel fuel) is also being considered. This will ensure a reliable fuel supply to the densely populated region and reduce dependence on rail transportation,” the KazMunayGas report says.
Moreover, current projects were also reviewed: construction of a flare gas recovery unit and a liquefied hydrocarbon gas auto-filling station. The project for transitioning to a 3-year inter-repair period (IRP) was also discussed.
“The stable operation of the Shymkent Oil Refinery is of key importance for uninterrupted fuel supply to the domestic market. In the 40th anniversary year, the refinery's task is not only to meet the production plan but also to significantly increase efficiency, ensure a high level of safety, and ensure environmental sustainability. I particularly emphasize the need for accelerated implementation of the PKOP capacity expansion project — this is a strategic priority that is essential for the country's energy security,” stressed Askhat Khassenov, giving specific instructions following the meeting.
The oil processing volume at PKOP for the past year was over 5.74 million tons. The output of light petroleum products was 78.8 percent (compared to 72.2 percent in 2023), and the depth of processing was 85.8 percent (85.5 percent).
In the first quarter of this year, positive dynamics were also noted: the actual raw material processing amounted to 1.51 million tons, exceeding the plan by almost 4 percent. The output of light petroleum products for the first three months of this year reached 81.2 percent, compared to the planned 76.4 percent, while the depth of processing was 87.72 percent, compared to the planned 86.52 percent.
