Kazakhstan expects oil and gas output levels to rise significantly

Kazakhstan's Economy Minister Zhaksybek Kulekeyev said that crude oil and gas condensate output levels were expected to rise significantly over the next five years. According to more conservative forecasts, Kulekeyev said, oil and condensate production is likely to reach the level of 60 mm tpy by 2005, up from the expected 2000 figure of 30 mm tons. He noted, however, that oil companies working in Kazakhstan believe that output may rise as high as 67 mm tpy within five years.
The minister further stated that he expected domestic oil refineries to boost throughput over the next five years. In 2005, he said, Kazakhstan's oil-processing plants will process about 12 mm tons of crude, up from the likely 2000 figure of 6.9 mm tons.
Astana reported that oil production had amounted to 16.76 mm tons in the first seven months of this year, while refinery throughput came to 3.0347 mm tons during the first six months.