Kazakhstan consideraing a fourth oil refinery by 2017

Kazakhstan is considering constructing a 4th oil refinery in 2017, Ms. Sholpan Khaidargaliyeva, Director for Petrochemistry Department of the country’s Oil and Gas Ministry, told Bnews.kz agency. “We are consideraing a number of options. There will be more crude coming from Kashagan, TengizChevroil is set to increase its oil output; Karachaganak is a good source. The major task is to have the domestic demand met. Later (…) we can think of exporting”, she said. According to her, Kazakhstan-based three refineries [in Pavlodar, Atyrau and Shymkent] process a total of 13-14 million tons of oil a year. Following the planned overhaul of the three facilities, the overall volume of processed crude will stand at 17 million tons. In May 2011 Oil and Gas Minister Sauat Mynbayev told Kazkahstan might construct a new oil refinery by 2020.