Azerbaijan, Baku, Feb. 15 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
Tengizshevroil Consortium has no plans to build an oil refinery in Kazakhstan, the company's Deputy General Manager - Policy, Government & Public Affairs David MacInnis told Trend in an e-mail.
Earlier, some media outlets reported that Tengizshevroil will build an oil refinery of the third generation at Tengiz oil field.
"Media reports that TCO has plans to construct an oil refinery are not true," MacInnis said.
In fact, the consortium plans to build the third generation plant based on proven and successful technology of Second Generation Plant currently operating at Tengiz oil field, he said.
The Second Generation Plant stabilizes and sweetens crude oil, as well as separates and processes natural gas into gas products and elemental sulfur. The Second Generation Plant is the largest single sour crude processing train in the world. The plant not only allowed to increase production, but also helped to increase environmental protection and maximize energy efficiencies through the use of advanced technology.
According to David MacInnis, Tengizshevroil's third generation plant will be a part of the consortium's Future Growth Project (FGP) which will expand the company's production by approximately 12 million tones per year.
"It is expected that FGP will increase TCO crude production from the current 24-million tones to 36 million tones per year," he said.
According to TCO representative, the consortium continues to seek the numerous endorsements needed as part of the approval process and is confident that they will be obtained in the near future.
"Once all government endorsements have been received, TCO will then be able to seek funding approval from our partners, KMG, Chevron, ExxonMobil and LukOil. Partner funding approval is the final step in the process, prior to beginning facility construction," David MacInnis said.
Tengiz field, opened in 1979 in the west of Kazakhstan, is one of the deepest and largest oil fields in the world. Total estimated reserves of the Tengiz field amount to 3 billion tons (26 billion barrels).
Tengiz field is operated by Tengizchevroil consortium (TCO), a joint venture established in April 1993 based on an agreement signed between the Kazakh government and Chevron.
Tengizchevroil partners are Chevron - 50 percent, KMG - 20 percent, ExxonMobil - 25 percent and LukArko - 5 percent.
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