Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov familiarised himself with measures to increase oil refining and full utilisation of enterprises of the petrochemical sector in Pavlodar region.

Head of the Government visited Pavlodar petrochemical plant, during which he got acquainted with its current activities and plans for further modernisation of production. Among the priority projects is the transition to non-stop intermaintenance period of technological units.

Today, Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant refines about 6 million tonnes of oil per year. Among the products produced: various grades of motor petrol, diesel fuel, fuel oil, bitumen, municipal gases, etc.

As Olzhas Bektenov noted, the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set clear tasks for the Government to provide the domestic market with fuel. In this regard, it is required that oil refineries implement a full range of measures to increase production of the entire range of petroleum products.

Given the importance of road construction for the development of the domestic economy, the Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant has completed construction of the furnace of the bitumen production unit, which has already increased its output by 15%.

Prime Minister emphasised that the management of the refinery needs to increase the pace, and the government will provide support.

In general, at the end of last year the volume of refining at KazMunayGas refineries increased by 20% from 14.2 million to 16.6 million tonnes per year. The depth of oil refining reached a record 86%, and the yield of light oil products rose to 72%. By increasing production of motor gasoline by 80% and diesel fuel by 30%, the domestic market demand was fully met.

"We are facing tasks to further increase the depth of refining. In particular, the Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant is implementing a project on hydrotreatment of diesel fuel, which will allow the enterprise to produce about 160 thousand tonnes of diesel with a freezing point of -38 degrees. This type of fuel is especially in demand in the northern regions of the country," Chairman of KMG Magzum Mirzagaliyev said.

Head of the Government also familiarised himself with the activities of the enterprise "Neftekhim LTD", which produces granulated polypropylene and other polymer products. A full production cycle is implemented here: from processing of liquefied petroleum gas supplied from Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant to production of finished products. In turn, these products are in demand both in the domestic market and in Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

Olzhas Bektenov emphasised that all conditions for the development of petrochemical cluster have been created in Pavlodar region. In particular, the plant "Neftekhim LTD" has not only solved the issue of import of polypropylene products, but also created a new direction in export.

Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Energy to carefully work out the issue of providing the enterprise with raw materials to further increase production.

#Olzhas Bektenov #The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan #Working trip