Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

A gradual increase in the processing capacity of Kazakhstan's Shymkent oil refinery will help to entirely meet the growing needs of the domestic market until 2035.

"Further gradual rise in the capacity of Shymkent oil refinery will help to cover the growing needs of country's domestic market," Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry told Trend Agency. "Moreover, an increase in the capacity by only 3 million metric tons after 2022-2024 will allow supplying Kazakhstan with light oil products till 2035."

Kazakhstan has three oil refineries, which are located in Shymkent (country's southern part), Atyrau (western part) and Pavlodar (northern part).

The country is now upgrading all the existing oil refineries, and this process will end in 2016. As a result, Kazakhstan's needs in light oil products, corresponding to Euro 4 and Euro 5 quality standards, will be fully met in 2017-2022.

According to forecasts, the consumption of diesel fuel and gasoline will rise in Kazakhstan starting from 2021 and 2025 respectively.

"In such a case, boosting the refining capacity is the possible option to fully provide internal market with domestic oil products," the ministry said. "The rational decision in these circumstances will be increasing the Shymkent refinery's capacity."

The Shymkent refinery's expansion gives several advantages as compared to construction of a new oil refinery.

"Firstly, the Shymkent oil refinery is located in Kazakhstan's densely populated region; secondly, it is near to Central Asia as the only potential market for exporting oil products ; thirdly, a developed infrastructure for ensuring oil supplies," the ministry said, noting that that is why this proposal was supported by the head of state.

Kazakhstan, one of the five Central Asian countries, is rich with hydrocarbon reserves. The country's production comes mainly from five onshore fields - Tengiz, Karachaganak, Aktobe, Mangistau, and Uzen - and two offshore fields - Kashagan and Kurmangazy, both located in the Caspian Sea.

The oil production in Kazakhstan amounted to 81.7 million tons in 2013 which is 3.2 percent more than 2012. The forecasts show after 2020 around two million barrels of oil will be produced in Kazakhstan per day. The country plans to produce 83 million tons of oil, 41 billion cubic meters of gas, as well as to process 14.7 million tons of oil in 2014.