BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 25. Kazakhstan’s
Kashagan Gas Processing Plant has reached 60% completion, with 97%
of major equipment already delivered, Energy Minister Yerlan
Akkenzhenov said during an inspection visit, QazaqGaz's statement
says.


The plant, being implemented by GPC Investment, a subsidiary of
QazaqGaz, will process 1 billion cubic meters of associated gas
annually and produce around 727 million cubic meters of commercial
gas per year after commissioning. Approximately 2,000 specialists
are currently involved in construction works. Installation of
process equipment, engineering systems and key production
facilities is underway, while construction of the accommodation
camp and railway infrastructure for oversized cargo delivery has
been completed.


"The Kashagan Gas Processing Plant is of strategic importance
for the further development of Kazakhstan’s gas industry.
Commissioning the plant will increase processing of associated gas,
improve the efficiency of developing one of the country’s largest
oil and gas fields, and supply additional volumes of commercial gas
to the domestic market. Our task today is to ensure its timely
commissioning," Akkenzhenov said.


QazaqGaz Chairman Alibek Zhamauov said the company continues to
closely monitor implementation of the project. "Implementation of
the project is under constant monitoring by QazaqGaz. Understanding
the project's importance for the country's economy, we are taking
all necessary measures to ensure the quality and timely completion
of the Kashagan Gas Processing Plant's construction," he said.


The Kashagan Gas Processing Plant is being developed as part of
Kazakhstan’s efforts to expand domestic gas processing capacity and
improve the utilization of associated gas produced at one of the
country’s largest oil fields. The project builds on decades of
complex engineering work at Kashagan, where international companies
have developed offshore and onshore infrastructure under
challenging environmental and technical conditions.


Saipem Country Manager for Romania, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and
Türkiye Ernesto Ferlenghi told Trend that the company has been involved in Kazakhstan
since 1995 and contributed to the development of the Kashagan
field.


"We’ve been working in Kazakhstan since 1995 and in Azerbaijan
since 1996. Our involvement reflects a commitment to providing
innovative, sustainable and technologically advanced solutions for
complex energy projects," Ferlenghi said.







According to him, Saipem participated in the Kashagan oil field
project between 2009 and 2016, carrying out engineering,
procurement, construction and installation works for offshore
infrastructure. The company was responsible for the development of
offshore facilities, including 95 kilometers of underwater
pipelines connecting offshore platforms with onshore
infrastructure. "This was a record-breaking achievement. It
included the longest pipeline shore pull in floating conditions,
spanning 10 kilometers. It was executed in an isolated area with a
very shallow profile, and significant attention was paid to
environmental conservation," Ferlenghi said.


Trend’s analysis
shows that he Kashagan Gas Processing Plant represents the next
stage in the development of one of Kazakhstan’s most technically
complex energy assets. While earlier phases focused on establishing
offshore production infrastructure, the current priority is
improving associated gas utilization and expanding domestic gas
supply.


The delivery of 97% of major equipment indicates that the
project has moved into one of the most important stages -
installation, integration and preparation for commissioning. These
phases typically require extensive testing and coordination between
multiple technical systems before a large-scale processing facility
can begin stable operations.


The plant is expected to process 1 billion cubic meters of
associated gas annually and provide around 727 million cubic meters
of commercial gas to the domestic market. For Kazakhstan,
additional gas supply has become increasingly important amid rising
demand from industrial projects, urban gasification programs and
energy infrastructure development.


Kashagan remains one of Kazakhstan’s largest hydrocarbon assets,
with oil production capacity significantly contributing to the
country’s overall output. However, offshore fields require
comprehensive management of associated gas volumes, making gas
processing infrastructure an important element of long-term
production efficiency. The project also has an environmental
dimension. Kazakhstan has committed to reducing routine gas flaring
under the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative, and
additional processing capacity is expected to improve associated
gas utilization and support emissions management efforts.


In Trend’s
assessment, the Kashagan Gas Processing Plant combines several
strategic objectives for Kazakhstan: increasing domestic gas
availability, strengthening operational flexibility at a major oil
field, and supporting environmental commitments. The government’s
focus on timely completion reflects the project’s importance for
both the energy sector and broader economic development plans.