Kazakhstan's Atyrau TPA/PET production complex set to launch in 2029 - deputy minister

ASTANA. April 25 (Interfax) - The production complex for terephthalic acid and polyethylene terephthalate (TPA/PET) in Atyrau is set to launch operations in 2029, Kazakh Deputy Energy Minister Askhat Khasenov said.

"The TPA/PET plant is set to begin operations in 2029," Khasenov told journalists in Astana.

Khasenov said that the project's pre-feasibility study is currently underway in partnership with China's Sinopec.

Regarding guarantees to supply paraxylene from the Atyrau Refinery as a raw material for PET, Khasenov said that the refinery plans to complete its modernization by 2027 to produce benzene and paraxylene without affecting the production of gasoline and diesel fuel.

Khasenov also said that no restrictions are anticipated on paraxylene production by the time the PET project is launched.

During a meeting between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Sinopec Chairman Ma Yongsheng, during Tokayev's official visit to China, the parties announced that Sinopec planned to construct a production facility for terephthalic acid and polyethylene terephthalate in Atyrau.

The press service of KazMunayGas (KMG) announced that Magzum Mirzagaliev, chairman of the company's board of directors, and Ma Yongsheng, chairman of the Sinopec board of directors, have signed an agreement to develop jointly a preliminary feasibility study for establishing terephthalic acid (TPA) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) production.

According to KMG, the planned future production capacity is up to 735,000 tonnes of PET per year.

The primary raw material for the TPA/PET project is paraxylene, which is produced at the Atyrau Oil Refinery.