Kazakhstan plans to build fourth oil refinery by 2033 - dep minister

ASTANA. Feb 17 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan aims to finish building its fourth oil refinery, with capacity of 10 million tonnes per year, by 2033, Deputy Energy Minister Kaiyrkhan Tutkyshbayev said.

"Following instructions given by the head of state, work will be carried out in 2026-2033, including a feasibility study, engineering, construction and commissioning of a new oil refinery. This project will add 10 million tonnes, bringing the country's total oil refining capacity to 40 million tonnes a year," Tutkyshbayev said at a government meeting on Tuesday.

He said the fourth refinery would eliminate the projected jet fuel shortage by 2033, allowing Kazakhstan to begin exports of diesel fuel and gasoline to neighboring countries. According to the slides shown at the meeting the refinery is scheduled to commence operations in 2033.

Tutkyshbayev said that expanding existing facilities and building the new refinery would gradually ease the domestic shortage of petroleum products.

It was reported earlier that the fourth refinery is likely to be built in the West Kazakhstan region.

Currently, there are three large oil refineries in Kazakhstan: in Pavlodar, Shymkent and Atyrau. The Energy Ministry said Kazakhstan's oil refinery throughputs reached 17.9 million tonnes in 2024 and 16.6 million tonnes in January-November 2025.

At an extended cabinet meeting on February 10, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the government to assess whether the country has sufficient crude for a new refinery.

Previously, the Energy Ministry said construction of the fourth refinery was planned for 2032-2040.