Kazakh PM holds meeting on oil and gas industry development

Kazakh PM holds meeting on oil and gas industry development

Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting on the development of the oil and gas industry. He emphasized the importance of launching major projects in Kazakhstan, including a petrochemical plant in the Atyrau region with a capacity of 500,000 tonnes of polypropylene per year and the start of construction of three gas processing plants. Bektenov highlighted that the government is taking a number of measures to support the sector and subsoil users. In particular, tax and investment legislation are being improved, and amendments have been made to the entrepreneurial code and the code on subsoil, reducing the burden on enterprises. An enhanced model contract for complex projects has been introduced, which enshrines preferences for subsoil users. The government also plans to implement further reforms aimed at liberalizing the oil and oil products market. The business community is expected to respond with substantial increases in local content and support for domestic producers, Bektenov noted. The oil and gas industry plays a crucial role in the country’s economy, generating a significant portion of tax revenues and jobs. Last year, the country produced 90 million tonnes of oil, with proven reserves estimated at 2.9 billion tonnes.