Kazakhstan Extends Ban on Liquefied Gas Exports for Another 6 Months

Industry in Kazakhstan, the largest economy in the five former Soviet republics of Central Asia, is consuming increasingly more hydrocarbons, and to meet domestic demand, Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev extended restrictions on exports of various types of liquefied natural gas for another six months. The restrictive measure concerning the ban on the export of liquefied petroleum gas, as well as propane and butane, is renewed every six months and is introduced in order to provide Kazakhstan’s domestic market with fuel, which is in high demand, given the size of its national territory – more than 2.7 million square kilometers.

The ruling will enter into force on May 14 and will not affect production at the Karachaganak field, which is part of a number of international agreements in Kazakhstan. After producing more than 59 billion cubic meters of gas in 2023, Kazakhstan’s gas production is expected to reach 60.5 billion cubic meters in 2024. Karachaganak is Kazakhstan’s largest gas field (38% of total volume).

This Central Asian Republic, in close cooperation with European and Asian countries, has started the process of technical modernization of its energy sector. On May 3, it was announced that South Korean energy companies Kepco and Doosan Enerbility will upgrade the thermal power plants in Kazakhstan, located in the capital Astana and the cities of Almaty, Pavlodar, and Topar. The South Korean companies intend to implement innovative environmental solutions to improve the performance of power plants, but above all to reduce air pollution in the country.