Kazakhstan to increase gas exports to Russia

By Kamila Aliyeva

A protocol on cooperation in the gas industry for 2018 between Kazakhstan and Russia was agreed upon and signed following the negotiations in Almaty held with the participation of KazMunaiGas oil and gas company, Gazprom PJSC, Gazprom Export and KazTransGas JSC, the company's press service reported.

“The agreements reached envisage partnerships and cooperation in the areas of processing, supply to the domestic market, export and transit of gas. In addition, the protocol provides for an increase in exports to Russia compared to the previous years,” the message said.

The document was signed by Kairat Sharipbayev, executive vice president for gas transportation and marketing at KazMunaiGas JSC, and Alexander Medvedev, deputy chairman of the board of Gazprom PJSC.

Russia’s Gazprom and Kazakhstan’s KazTransGas have been fruitfully cooperating for many years in the gas sector.

To date, KazTransGas JSC, which is the national operator in the gas and gas supply sector, fully meets domestic requirements for the commodity gas, annually increases its export potential and expands the transit through the territory of the country.

KazTransGas is the main gas-energy and gas transportation company of Kazakhstan, representing the interests of the state both on the domestic and foreign gas market.

The company manages a centralized infrastructure for the transport of marketable gas through gas trunklines and gas distribution networks, provides international transit and sells gas on the domestic and foreign markets, develops, finances, builds and operates pipelines and gas storage facilities.

Kazakhstan holds 0.8 percent of the world’s natural gas proven reserves, and produces 0.6 percent of the world’s total gas output, according to the BP’s statistics 2015.

A majority of Kazakhstan’s proved natural gas reserves and natural gas production is possible thanks to the Karachaganak field. The Karachaganak field's gas reserves are estimated at 1.35 trillion cubic meters while oil and liquid condensates around 1.2 billion tons.

About 49 percent of Kazakhstan's gas production and 18 percent of its produced oil are extracted from this field. 

The country serves as a major transit country for gas exports from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan that are destined to Russia and China.