BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov.13
By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend:
Atyrau is one of the largest industrial centers in Kazakhstan, where 55 percent of the country’s oil is produced, Head of Atyrau Region Makhambet Dosmukhambetov said during a press conference at the platform of the Central Communications Service (CCS), Trend reports referring to the CCS.
According to Dosmukhambetov, 39.3 million tons of oil have already been produced since the beginning of the year, and these rates will allow reaching the annual target of 46 million tons.
"Large-scale oil and gas projects are being implemented in the region, the largest of which is the Future Expansion Project (FGP) at the Tengiz field, with a total cost of about $45 billion. Its implementation will increase the annual volume of oil production by 12 million tons,” he said. “Moreover, the project will stimulate the development of related industries and services. About 300 Kazakh companies and 27,000 Kazakh workers are involved in the project, while before the COVID-19 pandemic, the project had involved 45,000 people. Its completion is planned in 2023 (by now it has been implemented by 80 percent).”
The region's head also touched upon another large-scale oil-gas project gaining ground, which is oil recovery on Kashagan field.
Almost 13 million tons of oil have been produced on Kashagan since the beginning of 2020, which is much higher than last year's figures, he noted.
As he pointed out, oil refining issue is also attached importance in the Atyrau region. The necessity to turn Western regions of Kazakhstan into the hub for investments in the construction of petrochemical complexes and the creation of new production cycles of high processing value was reflected in the instructions of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Following the instructions, 8 investment projects are underway in the region.
"In particular, I would like to highlight the project of the KPI being the largest polymer production company among the post-Soviet countries. Some $2.6 billion have been invested in the project, and 500 new jobs will be opened for it. More than 3,000 jobs will be opened during the construction phase. The production is expected to be launched in 2021. Dosmukhambetov further said.
“A project for the construction of GPS Investment LLP’s project of gas processing plant based on the Kashagan field’s crude with an investment volume of 370 billion tenge ($7.5 billion) for the period of 2021-2023 is also being worked out. The outcomes from the project implementation will be decrease in crude oil supplies abroad (now 80 percent of oil exports). With an increase in the export of refined oil, the production of finished petrochemical products will be organized. Some 2,800 jobs will be opened for the plant’s construction period and 600 permanent ones," summed up the region’s head.
(1 USD = 429.34 tenge on Nov.13)