Kazakhstan might import 500,000 tonnes of bitumen from Russia - ministry

ALMATY. Oct 3 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan is mulling over the import of up to 500,000 tonnes of bitumen from Russia, the Energy Ministry said in a Thursday press release.

"If necessary, we may have to import up to 500,000 tonnes of Russian bitumen after all domestically produced bitumen has been used," the press release says.

Bitumen production in Kazakhstan is expected to increase from 0.85 million tonnes in 2023 to 1 million-1.2 million tonnes in 2024, according to the ministry.

In the nine months of this year, the republic produced 712,000 tonnes of bitumen.