Kazakhstan, Astana, Jan. 28 / Trend D. Mukhtarov /
Kazakhstan is planning to increase oil production to 82 million tons in 2013, Oil and Gas Minister Sauat Mynbayev said at an extended session of the ministry on Monday.
"A volume of 82 million tons was set according to the strategic plan for 2013 and we believe this is a quite reasonable amount," Mynbayev said.
He also said that in 2012, oil and oil and gas condensate production amounted to 79.2 million tons in Kazakhstan.
Mynbayev noted that significant schedules lagged in terms of oil production in 2012, particularly in the Tengiz field, due to frequent stops of equipment and repair of railway lines in Russia which led to a decline in transportation volumes.
Uzenmunaigas, in turn did not reach its targets as the company has not yet reached full operation after the strikes of 2011.
"The decline in oil production in the country was also caused by the postponement of the start of oil production at the Kashagan field in the first half of 2013," Mynbayev said.