Kazakhstan produces 53.3 bcm of gas in 2022, 84.2 mln tonnes of oil - energy minister

ASTANA. Jan 11 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan produced 53.3 billion cubic meters of gas in 2022, 3.1% above the planned output level, Energy Minister Bulat Akchulakov said during a government meeting on Wednesday.

"The volume of gas production totaled 53.3 bcm in 2022, or 103.1% of the plan for 2022," Akchulakov said.

The energy minister said that production of commercial gas totaled 27.8 bcm, or 94% of the plan.

"Failure to achieve the [100%] figure was because of the restrictions on accepting Karachaganak gas at the Orenburg gas processing plant, as well as unscheduled maintenance at the Tengiz and Kashagan fields," Akchulakov explained.

Domestic consumption of commercial gas totaled 19.3 bcm, or 107.2% of the 2022 plan, and exports totaled 4.6 bcm, or 85.1% of the plan.

"The decrease in gas exports rendered it possible to ensure the growing volume of consumption on the domestic market. The priority is supplying gas to households," Akchulakov said.

Output of liquefied petroleum gas supplied to the domestic market totaled 2.8 million tonnes, or 98% of the plan.

"Failure to reach the planned volume was because of repairs at the large Pavlodar Oil Chemistry Refinery LLP, Atyrau Refinery LLP, and CNPC-AMG," Akchulakov said.

Domestic output of oil with condensate totaled 84.2 million tonnes in 2022, including 29.2 million tonnes of oil produced at the Tengiz field, 11.3 million tonnes at Karachaganak, and 12.7 million tonnes at Kashagan.

Oil exports totaled 64.3 million tonnes in 2022, the minister said.

Akchulakov previously said that Kazakhstan had expected to produce 84-85 million tonnes of oil by the end of 2022, which was below the plan of 85.7 million tonnes owing to unscheduled shutdowns at the Kashagan field.

Kazakhstan plans to produce 90.5 million tonnes of oil in 2023 and export 71 million tonnes, Akchulakov said.