Kazakhstan Postpones Refinery Maintenance to Ensure Reliable Fuel Supply

Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG) has postponed maintenance at its Pavlodar refinery to ensure a reliable fuel supply. The decision aims to minimize the risk of localized fuel shortages, according to the company.

KMG has been working to improve the reliability of the country's oil refineries through regular maintenance and upgrades. The Shymkent refinery has moved to a three-year maintenance cycle, allowing it to operate continuously without a major shutdown. Meanwhile, work is underway at the Pavlodar oil chemistry refinery and the Atyrau refinery to extend the periods between major maintenance operations.

The company plans to increase domestic refining capacity through several projects. Design documentation is being prepared to expand the capacity of the Shymkent refinery from 6 million to 12 million tons per year, while the capacity of the Pavlodar oil chemistry refinery is planned to increase from 6 million to 9 million tons annually.