Tokayev asks QazaqGaz to speed up construction of Kashagan gas processing plant

ASTANA. Oct 10 (Interfax) - Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has asked QazaqGaz to speed up construction of the Kashagan gas processing plant.

Tokayev discuss priority supplies of commercial gas to the domestic market at a meeting with QazaqGaz CEO Sanzhar Zharkeshov.

"Zharkeshov reported on the progress of implementing a comprehensive plan for the development of the gas industry, which entails expanding the resource base, upgrading the country's gas transportation networks and restructuring the gas industry. The relevant amendments to legislation will be adopted before the end of the year," the president's press office said.

Tokayev urged the head of QazaqGaz to accelerate the construction of a gas processing plant at the Kashagan field. The plant there is expected to increase the field's gas production capacity to 450,000 barrels a day and is scheduled for commissioning in Q4 2023.

QazaqGaz, formerly KazTransGas, and North Caspian Operating Company signed an agreement in December 2021 on the project design of Phase 2A at the Kashagan field. The project calls for building a plant to boost gas processing capacity by 2 billion cubic meters.

Kashagan is Kazakhstan's first offshore oil and gas field in the Caspian Sea and the largest international investment project in the country. Commercial operations began at Kashagan on November 1, 2016.