Kazakhstan is preparing to launch a major new oil refinery by 2033, a move aimed at boosting fuel production, eliminating shortages, and turning the country into a net exporter of refined oil products.

Vice Minister of Energy Kaiyrkhan Tutkyshbayev said that the planned refinery will have an annual processing capacity of 10 million tons of crude oil. The project will move through key phases between 2026 and 2033, including feasibility studies, design, construction, and full commissioning, The Caspian Post reports via Kazakh media.

Once operational, Kazakhstan’s total oil refining capacity is expected to reach 40 million tons per year-significantly strengthening the country’s energy independence and export potential.

Officials say preparatory work is already underway. The Energy Ministry is collecting data on crude supply sources, product output options, and future demand forecasts to determine the refinery’s optimal configuration, technology provider, and location. These decisions will shape the plant’s long-term competitiveness in regional and global fuel markets.

The refinery is also part of a broader strategy to eliminate domestic fuel shortages. Between 2028 and 2030, upgrades at Kazakhstan’s three existing refineries are expected to reduce the aviation fuel deficit from 500,000 tons to 300,000 tons annually, while fully eliminating diesel shortages. After the new refinery comes online in 2033, authorities expect jet fuel deficits to disappear entirely, with surplus diesel and gasoline available for export to neighboring countries.

In addition to increasing output, Kazakhstan plans to improve refining efficiency and fuel quality. Oil refining depth at existing plants will rise from 89 per cent to 94 per cent, while the new refinery is expected to achieve a 95 per cent processing depth. Fuel standards will also be upgraded to the cleaner K5 environmental class, aligning Kazakhstan with modern international environmental requirements.