ASTANA (TCA) — After completion of modernization of Kazakhstan’s three oil refineries — in Atyrau, Pavlodar and Shymkent, the demand by the domestic market will be fully met by Kazakh motor fuel. By the end of 2018, Kazakhstan’s refineries will fully meet the domestic demand and excess volumes can be exported, Deputy Minister of Energy Magzum Mirzagaliyev said in an interview with Рrimeminister.kz.
The Deputy Minister said that the modernization of the refineries has helped to increase not only the quantity but also the quality of the oil products. Petroleum products of ecological class K2 produced previously, after modernization meet the requirements of class K4, K5. The higher the ecological class of gasoline consumed by motor transport, the less emissions of harmful vapors into the atmosphere.
The Pavlodar Oil Chemistry Refinery was modernized in December 2017 simultaneously with the Atyrau Oil Refinery’s completion. Earlier in September 2016, the project on the construction of the Complex for Production of Aromatic Hydrocarbons at the Atyrau Refinery was completed. Construction of the Deep Oil Refining Complex at the Atyrau Oil Refinery is at the launch stage, the Deputy Minister said.
In March 2018 the main installation of the catalytic cracking complex was launched, as a result of which the production of high-octane automobile gasoline was increased more than twofold.
Regarding the reconstruction and modernization of the Shymkent Oil Refinery, the first stage was completed in June 2017, the second — on March 15, 2018. To date, mechanical completion has been achieved and commissioning is underway. The planned completion date for commissioning is September 2018, the Deputy Minister said.
