Kazakhstan to Build Fourth Oil Refinery in 15 Years — Authorities Reveal Possible Location

Kazakhstan is preparing to build its fourth oil refinery, with the project included in the national oil refining industry development concept through 2040, Orda.kz reports.

Responding to a parliamentary inquiry, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov confirmed that one of the proposed sites for the new plant is the Mangystau Region.

The construction of a plant with an annual capacity of 10 million tonnes is part of the approved Concept for the Development of the Oil Refining Industry through 2040. The project includes the production of TS-1 and Jet A-1 aviation fuels, Bektenov stated.

The refinery’s development will take place in several stages:

• Pre–Front-End Engineering Design (pre-FEED): 2028–2030
• Design and documentation: 2030–2032
• Construction: 2032–2040

The Ministry of Energy has already drafted technical specifications for the pre-FEED stage and is identifying potential project participants. At least four possible sites, including Mangystau, are under consideration.

Authorities aim to establish an integrated oil refining and petrochemical complex capable of deep raw material processing and producing high-margin products.

 However, Bektenov noted that such a project would only be economically viable if fuel prices remain high.

Every spring and autumn, the shutdown of one of Kazakhstan’s three existing refineries — in Shymkent, Pavlodar, and Atyrau — leads to temporary fuel shortages. Experts believe that modernizing and expanding refining capacity will help reduce pressure on the system and prevent economic losses caused by downtime.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny