Kazakhstan’s Kashagan Gas Processing Plant has reached 60% completion, with 97% of major equipment already delivered, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said during an inspection visit.

The plant is being developed by GPC Investment, a subsidiary of QazaqGaz, and is designed to process 1 billion cubic meters of associated gas annually. Once commissioned, it is expected to produce approximately 727 million cubic meters of commercial gas per year, the company said in a statement, The Caspian Post reports.

Around 2,000 specialists are currently engaged in construction activities at the site. Installation of process equipment, engineering systems and key production facilities is ongoing, while the construction of the accommodation camp and railway infrastructure for transporting oversized cargo has been completed.

“The Kashagan Gas Processing Plant is of strategic importance for the further development of Kazakhstan’s gas industry. Commissioning the plant will increase the processing of associated gas, improve the efficiency of developing one of the country’s largest oil and gas fields, and supply additional volumes of commercial gas to the domestic market. Our task today is to ensure its timely commissioning,” Akkenzhenov said.

QazaqGaz Chairman Alibek Zhamauov said the company continues to closely oversee the project’s implementation.

“Implementation of the project is under constant monitoring by QazaqGaz. Understanding the project's importance for the country’s economy, we are taking all necessary measures to ensure the quality and timely completion of the Kashagan Gas Processing Plant’s construction,” he said.

The Kashagan Gas Processing Plant is being developed as part of Kazakhstan’s broader efforts to expand domestic gas processing capacity and improve the utilization of associated gas produced at one of the country’s largest oil fields.

The project builds on decades of complex engineering work at Kashagan, where international companies have developed offshore and onshore infrastructure under challenging environmental and technical conditions.

Saipem Country Manager for Romania, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Türkiye Ernesto Ferlenghi told Trend that the company has operated in Kazakhstan since 1995 and has contributed to the development of the Kashagan field.

“We’ve been working in Kazakhstan since 1995 and in Azerbaijan since 1996. Our involvement reflects a commitment to providing innovative, sustainable and technologically advanced solutions for complex energy projects,” Ferlenghi said.

According to him, Saipem participated in the Kashagan oil field project from 2009 to 2016, carrying out engineering, procurement, construction and installation works for offshore infrastructure.

The company was responsible for developing offshore facilities, including 95 kilometers of underwater pipelines connecting offshore platforms with onshore infrastructure.

“This was a record-breaking achievement. It included the longest pipeline shore pull in floating conditions, spanning 10 kilometers. It was executed in an isolated area with a very shallow profile, and significant attention was paid to environmental conservation,” Ferlenghi said.

Trend’s analysis shows that the Kashagan Gas Processing Plant represents the next phase in the development of one of Kazakhstan’s most technically complex energy assets.

While earlier stages focused on establishing offshore production infrastructure, the current priority is improving associated gas utilization and expanding domestic gas supplies.

The delivery of 97% of major equipment indicates that the project has entered one of its most important stages - installation, integration and preparation for commissioning. These phases typically require extensive testing and coordination among multiple technical systems before a large-scale processing facility can begin stable operations.

The plant is expected to process 1 billion cubic meters of associated gas annually and provide approximately 727 million cubic meters of commercial gas to Kazakhstan’s domestic market.

For Kazakhstan, additional gas supplies have become increasingly important due to rising demand from industrial projects, urban gasification programs and energy infrastructure development.

Kashagan remains one of Kazakhstan’s largest hydrocarbon assets, with oil production from the field making a significant contribution to the country’s overall output. However, offshore fields require comprehensive management of associated gas volumes, making gas processing infrastructure a key element of long-term production efficiency.

The project also carries an environmental significance. Kazakhstan has committed to reducing routine gas flaring under the World Bank’s Zero Routine Flaring by 2030 initiative. Additional processing capacity is expected to improve associated gas utilization and support efforts to manage emissions.

According to Trend’s assessment, the Kashagan Gas Processing Plant combines several strategic objectives for Kazakhstan: increasing domestic gas availability, improving operational flexibility at a major oil field, and supporting environmental commitments.

The government’s focus on completing the project on schedule highlights its importance for both the energy sector and Kazakhstan’s wider economic development plans.