Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 29 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
Kazakhstan can return to the issue of a new refinery construction in connection with the development of the Kashagan oil and gas project, Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Massimov said at Majilis (the Parliament's lower chamber) meeting, Kazinform reported.
Massimov said that the new refinery will ensure Kazakhstan's energy independence. Massimov said that the government's proposals on this issue will be submitted to the President for consideration.
Kazakhstan has three major oil refineries: Pavlodar refinery, Atyrau refinery and Shymkent petrochemical plant. Modernization operations are conducted at all three refineries by 2015.
Kashagan is Kazakhstan's super-giant oil and gas field located in the north of the Caspian Sea. According to the Kazakh geologists, geological reserves at Kashagan are estimated at 4.8 billion tons of oil.
Up to 50 million tons of oil will be extracted in the first stage of experimental-industrial development in the field annually. Oil export from the field can be doubled in the second phase scheduled for 2018 -2019.