According to Astana Times report on November 19, 2017, in total 3 Kazakh oil refineries will start producing aviation fuel in the 2nd half of 2018 and are expected to be able to fully supply the Kazakh market.
«We expect that in the 2nd half of 2018, we will fully supply domestic market with aviation fuel, and we will be able to control its cost and regulate it. I think that by July, when the Astana International Financial Centre [AIFC] will be presented, we will fully supply our country with aviation kerosene,» said Kazakh Minister of Energy Kanat Bozumbayev.
Bozumbayev confirmed that Kazakhstan depends on Russian fuel. According to him, the country used to get Siberian oil from Russia that was light and contained a small amount of sulphur.
Currently, Kazakhstan’s Pavlodar refinery receives heavier oil from the Bashkortostan deposits, and because of this the plant is not able to produce quality aviation fuel.
«Therefore, several years ago it was decided to modernise all 3 refineries, and the modernisation of these plants is nearing completion. The 2 plants – Pavlodar and Atyrau – will complete their modernisation by the end of this year; the Shymkent plant will complete modernisation in the 2nd half of 2018. After the completion of modernisation, all 3 refineries will produce about 900,000 tonnes of aviation fuel, which we will certify according to Western standards,» he said.
Kazakh Minister of Energy explained that in January or February, high-quality fuel will be produced in the Pavlodar and Atyrau refineries, but it will take time to certify it and receive permission among aircraft engine manufacturers and airlines that fly to Astana.
