Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 8
By Rashid Shirinov – Trend:
The President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has instructed to intensify geological exploration of gas fields, Energy Minister Kanat Bozumbayev said, Trend reports via Kazakh media.
"To implement all the tasks of the industry, it is necessary to further study the issues of resource base replenishment. In this regard, the president has instructed to intensify geological exploration, including exploration of gas resources," Bozumbayev said at an extended meeting of the board of the Energy Ministry.
According to the minister, gas production last year amounted to 55.5 billion cubic meters, showing an increase of 5 percent compared to 2017. In 2019, it is planned to produce 55 billion cubic meters.
Production of commercial gas increased to 33.3 billion cubic meters with an increase of 5.4 percent and of liquefied gas to 3.1 million tons with an increase of 7.3 percent compared to 2017. The plan for 2019 is 31.3 billion cubic meters and 3.2 million tons, respectively.
According to the ministry, the level of gasification of Kazakshtan in 2018 reached 49.68 percent, an increase of 2.3 percent compared to 2017. About nine million people have access to gas. Bozumbayev said that by the end of 2019 it is planned to reach the level of gasification of 50.5 percent.
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