Kazakhstan, China advance Shymkent refinery upgrade plans

Kazakhstan and China have held talks in Beijing on expanding cooperation in the oil and gas sector, with a focus on upgrading refining capacity and increasing pipeline throughput, according to Kazakh media cited by Caliber.Az.

Executives from Kazakhstan’s state-owned KazMunayGas and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) reviewed progress on joint energy projects, including the expansion of the Kazakhstan–China oil pipeline and a planned upgrade of the Shymkent oil refinery.

A technological audit has already been completed for the refinery project, which aims to double its processing capacity from 6 million tonnes to 12 million tonnes per year. Work is currently underway to optimise the plant’s configuration as part of preparations for a feasibility study.

In parallel, feasibility studies have been launched to increase the capacity of key domestic oil pipelines. The Kenkiyak–Atyrau pipeline is planned to be expanded to 15 million tonnes annually, while the Kenkiyak–Kumkol route is expected to reach a capacity of 20 million tonnes per year.

KazMunayGas Chairman Askhan Khassenov and CNPC President Zhou Xinhui also discussed upstream cooperation, including development of the Urikhtau field and additional exploration at mature oilfields in western Kazakhstan.

By Tamilla Hasanova