QazaqGaz, Eni discuss Kashagan gas processing project cooperation

ALMATY. Jan 30 (Interfax) - QazaqGaz CEO Sanjar Zharkeshov and Eni Upstream Director Luca Vignati have discussed joint efforts to support the reform in Kazakhstan's gas sector.

QazaqGaz company noted the investor's interest in the proposal to change the pricing principle for commercial gas.

"QazaqGaz and Eni discussed prospects for cooperation in the construction of a gas processing plant at Kashagan," the company said on Monday.

Zharkeshov said the company is ready to work with the investor on the principle of cost efficiency to raise investment and meet domestic demand for gas.

Construction of the gas processing plant at Kashagan began in the summer of 2021, with commissioning scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2023.

In December 2021, the national company QazaqGaz - KazTransGas at the time - and Kashagan project operator - North Caspian Operating Company signed an agreement to enter into Kashagan Phase 2A front-end engineering design phase, which provides for an increase in the gas processing capacity. The project provides for the construction of a new gas processing plant with a capacity of up to 2 billion cubic meters a year, in addition to the ongoing project aimed at building the plant with a processing capacity of 1 billion cubic meters a year.

Kashagan is regarded as one of the largest oil and gas fields discovered in recent decades. Its recoverable reserves range from 9 billion to 13 billion barrels of oil. Commercial production at Kashagan began on November 1, 2016.