ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 3. Kazakhstan and
China have begun work on a project to expand the Shymkent oil
refinery to a capacity of 12 million tons per year, Trend reports via the
country's Ministry of Energy.


A delegation from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy, headed by
Daulet Arykbayev, Director of the Oil Transportation and Refining
Department, participated in a meeting held in Qingdao, China,
focused on developing the feasibility study (FS) for expanding the
production capacity of the refinery operated by PetroKazakhstan Oil
Products LLP (PKOP).


During the meeting, the parties approved the basic parameters
for implementing the project. PKOP presented a package of initial
technical data, while the East China Engineering Design Institute
confirmed its readiness to begin work in strict compliance with the
approved terms of reference.


A key outcome of the talks was the confirmation of the refinery
expansion configuration under the “6+6” scheme, which involves two
processing units, each with a capacity of 6 million tons, fully
integrated with the refinery’s existing facilities. The previously
agreed terms of reference and pre-feasibility study report were
adopted as the basis for the design.


The participants emphasized the priority of meeting project
timelines and highlighted the importance of completing the main
part of the feasibility study within the deadlines set out in the
Framework Agreement.







Following the meeting, relevant protocols were signed, marking
the transition of the project into an active technical development
phase.


Overall, Kazakhstan plans to increase its total oil refining
capacity from 18 million to 39 million tons per year through the
expansion of its three existing refineries. In parallel, efforts
are underway to attract potential investors for the construction of
a new refinery with a capacity of up to 10 million tons per
year.


The Shymkent oil refinery, built in 1985, is the most recent
refinery in Kazakhstan. The refinery accounts for approximately 30%
of the country's total oil products, produced across three
refineries. As the only refinery in southern Kazakhstan, it serves
the region’s most densely populated area. The Shymkent refinery
produces gasoline to the K4 standard, including grades RON-95 and
RON-92; K4 standard diesel fuel in grades DT-L, DT-E, and DT-Z; jet
fuel TS-1; fuel oil M-100; liquefied gas; and sulfur in flake
form.


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