Oil Chronicles
Oil Chronicles. September 2022
September
The new head of TotalEnergies in Kazakhstan, Mr. Frode Ljones, has started work. He worked at TotalEnergies for more than 16 years before being appointed to Kazakhstan as CFO, Financial controller in Norway, and Deputy Vice President for Budget and Financial Control of TotalEnergies Group in Paris. In August 2022, he was appointed head of TotalEnergies in Kazakhstan.
September 2, a branch of the Gubkin Russian University of Oil and Gas opened in Atyrau. The research university will carry out educational activities on the basis of the Atyrau University of Oil and Gas named after S. Utebayev.
The branch has launched an admission campaign to recruit students for bachelor's degree in the training programs "Construction and operation of gas and oil pipelines and gas storage facilities", "Oil and gas technologies", and "Geological modeling of natural oil and gas reservoirs". Two hundred educational grants have been allocated for students. The teaching process will involve teachers from Russia.
September 9, a meeting on the rehabilitation of the Uzen field was held in the Mangistau region under the leadership of the Chairman of the Board of KMG Magzum Mirzagaliyev.
He said that on behalf of the head of state, the concept of the rehabilitation plan for the Uzen and Karamandybas fields was developed. It is assumed that the field rehabilitation measures will increase the oil production of Ozenmunaigas JSC in stages over several years to 6-6.5 mln tons and maintain this figure in the next ten years. According to him, the Ozenmunaigas JSC production cut-off will come in 2024.
Starting September 12, the production at the Karachaganak field has been suspended. As stated in the message of KPO, this is due to the need for a planned overhaul of the production complex, which, according to calculations, will take four weeks.
On September 13, KazTransGas Onimderi and the National Maritime Shipping Company Kazmortransflot signed an agreement on cooperation in the use of liquefied Natural gas (LNG) on KMTF vessels.
The document provides for the use of LNG on ships as a gas engine fuel. According to the requirements of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), in the coming years, ships need to reduce emissions of sulfur oxides generated by burning marine fuel, which will reduce the negative impact of maritime transport on the environment. According to the Paris Agreement, Kazakhstan has committed itself to reduce emissions on the way to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
For a transport company, the use of natural gas as a motor fuel provides an increase in the service life of the engine and lowers consumables and oils by reducing the amount of soot particles in combustion products, which helps to reduce friction. In addition, the cost of LNG is two times lower than traditional types of motor fuel.
Starting in 2023, KTGO plans to develop LNG production, which will allow supplying marine, rail, road transport, and special equipment with the methane-fueled gas engine fuel.
September 15, KazMunayGas used its right under the 2015 call option agreement and acquired a 50% stake in KMG Kashagan B.V. from the Samruk-Kazyna Fund for $3.8 bln, which owns 16.88% in the Production Sharing Agreement for the North Caspian Project.
"As a result of the increase in the share in the Kashagan project, KMG's consolidated production, EBITDA, net profit, and assets will improve. At the same time, the company's debt will also increase. It is planned that payment for the acquisition will be made at the expense of cash flows of KMG Kashagan B.V.," said Deputy Chairman of the Board of KMG Dauren Karabayev. In 2015, KMG sold a 50% stake in KMG Kashagan B.V. to the Samruk-Kazyna Fund to use the proceeds to reduce debt.
September 15, a module for verifying consumer data for the supply of diesel fuel at differentiated prices was launched based on the Information System for accounting for certain petroleum products.
The functionality of the information system in real-time allows you to track the daily volumes of diesel fuel sold at the gas station at 230-260 tenge per liter (depending on the region). The service checks documents from the Ministry of Internal Affairs databases, the Ministry of Digital Development, and the State Credit Bureau.
September 16 Chairman of the Board of QazaqGaz Sanzhar Zharkeshov and Chairman of the Board of the Association of Kazakhstan Machinery Industry Meiram Pshembayev signed a memorandum of cooperation.