ASTANA, Kazakhstan, September 26. The practical stage of implementing the Concept for the Development of the Oil Refining Industry until 2040 has begun in Kazakhstan, said Talgat Makuov, Deputy Director of the Department of Oil Transportation and Refining at the Ministry of Energy, Trend reports via the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan.
According to him, the Ministry of Energy has prepared a plan of priority actions, which includes 19 initiatives, eight of which have already been completed. These include notifying government agencies and companies, conducting monthly site visits to refineries, carrying out awareness-raising efforts, and preparing roadmaps for refinery projects.
Six key priorities have been defined for now:
Expansion of refinery capacities; Establishment of a Research Institute for Oil Refining and Petrochemistry; Gradual ramp-up of JSC "Condensate" to 50 percent capacity; Transition to K5 and higher environmental class motor fuels; Construction of strategic fuel storage tanks; Exploration of a new oil refinery project with petrochemical production capabilities.
Talgat Makuov explained that petrochemistry in Kazakhstan is represented by two major directions with significant potential:
Petrochemistry – or the chemical synthesis of liquid substances such as arenes, surfactants, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, etc., into more complex organic compounds. Currently, this is represented by benzene and paraxylene at the Atyrau Oil Refinery (AOR). Gas chemistry – processing of unsaturated gaseous hydrocarbons into linear polymers, gradually developing through the KPI polypropylene production project.
"Therefore, it is advisable to implement projects aimed at expanding existing refineries using a modern fuel-petrochemical configuration and constructing combined refineries and petrochemical complexes with flexible product lines depending on market demand. This makes petrochemical complexes attractive and long-term assets, increasing the capitalization of management companies," Makuov emphasized.
Special attention is being given to aviation fuel production. The three main refineries plan to produce over 1.5 million tons. Additionally, the development potential of private refineries is being considered.
Makuov also added that the three fundamental priorities are:
The volume or capacity for deep oil processing;
The quality of petroleum products in line with ESG standards;
Science, or a strong scientific foundation for the industry.
The implementation of the concept will enable the creation of modern integrated oil refining and petrochemical complexes in Kazakhstan, to increase the production of high-quality motor and aviation fuels, and ensure the long-term sustainable development of the industry.
