Kazakh refining & petrochemical industry investments
Substantial funds are intended to be invested in oil refining and petrochemicals in Kazakhstan in the next few years, concentrated on the three existing refineries at Atyrau, Shymkent and Pavlodar. Last year, the Pavlodar refinery processed 4.8 million tons, which comprised 35% of refining in Kazakhstan. It also produced around 30,000 tons of polypropylene which in intends to increase tenfold by 2015. The construction of the aromatics complex at Atyrau, involving 133,000 tpa of benzene and 493,000 tpa of paraxylene, is aimed primarily at exports. Atyrau is also the site for the new polyolefin complex involving 800,000 tpa of polyethylene and 500,000 tpa of polypropylene. Sinopec, the general contractor of the project, and China Exim Bank provides loan borrowing.
Kazakhstan is involved in a number of refinery and chemical sector investments aside the Atyrau complex. In the refinery sector, KazMunaiGaz (KMG) plans to invest $680 million between 2011 and 2013 to upgrade its Shymkent refinery, in which China National Corp owns a 50% stake, and invest around $600 million to develop its Pavlodar refinery. KazMunaiGaz is seeking a Russian partner to help run the Pavlodar refiner near the Russian border.
KazMunaiGaz is engaged in several major projects in Kazakhstan in the 2010-2014 period aimed at improving refinery techniques and adding value to products. Atyrau represents the main focus of attention including the reconstruction of the existing ELVOU-AVT unit and construction of a delayed coking unit, in addition to a new aromatics complex.
Other projects include the modernisation of the Shymkent and Pavlodar refineries, which are in the feasibility stages. KMG intends to construct a plant at Aktau for polymer-modified bitumen with a capacity of 400,000 tpa, using oil deposits from the Karazhanbas field.
Further information on the Kazakh petrochemical industry can be found in either CIREC Monthly News or CIS Chemical Industry News. Please contact us for subscription details.
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