Tuesday, August 07, 2012 -
Kazakhstan will modernize its three oil refineries to increase production rates and bring products to a quality level in line with European standards, the Kazakh ministry of oil and gas said on Tuesday.
“The implementation of these projects is a priority,” the ministry said in a statement. “Upgrading works will be carried out in stages until the end of 2015.”
The modernization will take place at refineries in the northern city Pavlodar, the western coastal city of Atyrau, and at the Shymkent refinery in southern Kyrgyzstan.
Obsolete machinery and worn-out equipment will be replaced as part of the modernization drive, undertaken to fulfill Kazakhstan’s government-run industrial development program.
The modernization will also see Kazakh refineries move from producing Euro-2 level fuels to fuels which will meet Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards.
It will also reduce reliance on imports of high-octane gasoline, improve the depth of refining, and reduce harmful side effects on the environment.