Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 29
Trend:
Kazakhstan will annually increase gas production by four percent on average, said the country’s Deputy Energy Minister Magzum Mirzagaliyev at a press conference at the Central Communications Service, according to a message from the Kazakh Energy Ministry.
“The expected average annual growth rate of gas is expected to stand at 4 percent until 2040. About 30 percent of 46 billion cubic meters of produced gas is used for domestic needs, 30 percent – for export and the remaining volumes are pumped back into the reservoir,” noted the deputy minister.
The main share of gas production is provided by large deposits: Karachaganak (49 percent), Tengiz (31 percent) and Kashagan (14 percent).
It is planned to produce more than 48 billion cubic meters of gas in 2017 in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan ranks 22nd in the world and 3rd among CIS countries after Russia and Turkmenistan for its approved gas reserves, said Mirzagaliyev adding that the recoverable gas reserves are approved at 3.9 trillion cubic meters, including associated gas – 2.6 trillion cubic meters, natural and free gas – 1.3 trillion cubic meters.
The Kazakh ministry is deliberately pursuing a policy to reduce the volume of gas flaring at oil and gas fields, he said.
The deputy minister added that one of the priorities for the industry is the development of new transport routes and the development of the country’s export potential.
“Three years ago, the linear part of the Beineu-Bozoi-Shymkent gas pipeline was commissioned. The full completion of the project with bringing the capacity up to 10 billion cubic meters per year, is planned for this year after the completion of the construction of two compressor stations, Bozoi and Karaozek,” said the official.
“Foreign investments were attracted for the construction of the gas pipeline. The built international gas pipeline Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan-China allowed expanding the transit potential of the country and creating opportunities for the export of Kazakh gas to China,” said Mirzagaliyev.