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Kazakhstan Energy Week 2025: Defining the Country❜s New Energy Reality
Kazakhstan Energy Week 2025, held in early October in Astana, served as a crucial platform for discussing the prospects for Kazakhstan’s energy sector development and its role in the global energy system.
The energy forum, marking the 20th anniversary of its permanent organizer, the KAZENERGY Association, brought together over 2.5 thousand delegates from more than 50 countries, uniting representatives of government bodies, international energy organizations, major oil and gas corporations, and the expert community. In Astana, strategic plans were announced, current challenges were discussed, and important agreements were concluded that will define the further path of Kazakhstan’s energy development.
Strategic guidelines
The forum’s plenary session opened with a welcome address from Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, delivered by Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov. The address highlighted the country's strategic importance in terms of energy security and the need to attract investment in the energy sector. The President noted that Kazakhstan is interested in strengthening ties with reputable international organizations, such as the UN, SCO, IAEA, and OPEC, to ensure the industry’s sustainable development.
In his remarks, Olzhas Bektenov briefed forum participants on major energy projects underway in the country. These include the commissioning of a polypropylene plant with a capacity of 500 thous. tons, projects to produce polyethylene at 1,25 mln tonnes, as well as the production of butadiene and urea. In total, by 2030 six large projects are planned for launch with an aggregate value of over $15 bln.
The Government is placing special emphasis on expanding processing capacities. Plans call for increasing the capacity of the Shymkent refinery from 6 to 12 mln tons per year, scaling up gas processing capacities in Zhanaozen, at Kashagan and Tengiz, and building the second string of the Beineu-Bozoy-Shymkent gas pipeline. Together with international partners, renewable energy projects totalling more than 4 GW are being implemented, and three coal-fired CHP plants with a combined capacity of 1 GW are being launched. By 2040, the plan is to increase refining volumes to 39 mln tonnes, raising conversion depth to 94%.
One of the key vectors in the development of the country’s energy sector is digitalization and the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI). According to the Prime Minister, AI is becoming a core tool for enhancing the efficiency of geological exploration and optimizing production, transportation, and processing. Enhanced oil recovery methods, digitalization of exploration and production workflows, and the use of AI for data analysis help raise recovery factors and increase output not only at producing fields but also by unlocking the potential of small and mid-sized fields.
A crucial catalyst for accelerating the integration of innovation across all sectors of the economy is the recently established Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. Alongside digitalization and AI deployment, rising energy consumption requires increased generation. In this context, projects related to rare earths extraction, uranium production, and the construction of a nuclear power plant take on particular importance.
Mr. Bektenov emphasized that Kazakhstan remains a reliable and predictable partner, open to cooperation in building joint high-tech production with international organizations and the business community.
Views of international experts
During the forum’s plenary session, representatives of international organizations, government bodies, and the expert community shared timely views on the development of global energy.
OPEC Secretary General Haitham Al Ghais called for increased investment in the oil and gas sector, noting the need to ensure energy security and sustainable development. Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Francesco La Camera outlined the prospects for cooperation among so-called “middle powers,” a group that includes Kazakhstan, in accelerating the rollout of green energy and renewable projects. Secretary General of the International Energy Forum (IEF) Jassim Alshiraavi highlighted Kazakhstan’s key role as a bridge between the Caspian region and the broader world in ensuring global energy security and a sustainable transition, and also invited Kazakhstan to become an official member of the IEF.
Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Ahmad Saidmurodzoda emphasized the need to strengthen energy security, stimulate investment, and accelerate the shift to sustainable energy sources under the SCO cooperation strategy through 2030.
Sector development strategy
Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, Erlan Akkenzhenov, presented the sector development strategy at the main plenary session of the XVII Eurasian KAZENERGY Forum. He emphasized that Kazakhstan has been and remains an important link in the global energy system, and that state policy is aimed at building a multi-vector, resilient course grounded in international partnership. Kazakhstan successfully balances its role as a reliable supplier of hydrocarbons with the consistent development of a low-carbon model, thereby strengthening energy security and attracting new investment.
To stimulate geological exploration and the development of new fields, the Improved Model Contract has been introduced, providing significant fiscal preferences. According to the minister, this mechanism has already enabled the signing of agreements totalling more than $9 bln.
Mr. Akkenzhenov focused in detail on two key tracks: the modernization of conventional energy and the development of green technologies. He noted plans to expand the capacity of the three largest refineries and to undertake large-scale upgrades of coal plants utilizing carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). In parallel, the country is building out its renewable energy potential. Today, the country operates 158 renewable energy facilities with a combined capacity of almost 3.25 GW.
Oil and Gas: Prospects and New Resources
Participants of the panel session “Kazakh Oil: Prospects and New Resources” discussed the future of the Republic’s oil industry in the context of the global energy transition and national priorities for ensuring sustainable economic growth and energy security. The discussion focused on the long-term outlook for Kazakhstan’s largest oil and gas projects — Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan — and on mechanisms for enhancing their efficiency and profitability.
Special emphasis was placed on the implementation of innovations, including advanced geological exploration methods, digital solutions, and artificial intelligence, which will improve the efficiency of field development and open access to new resources.
Chairman of the Management Board of the national company KazMunayGas, Askhat Khassenov, noted in his remarks that, in the context of the global energy transformation, the company is adapting to changes in the international market and developing a long-term, sustainable strategy.
One of KMG’s key priorities is comprehensive development across the entire value chain. The company is actively expanding geological exploration under a strategy aimed at the sustainable replenishment of the country’s mineral resource base. Currently, its portfolio includes 13 exploration projects carried out both independently and in cooperation with international partners. KMG’s goal is to achieve an increase in reserves across major exploration assets of up to 200 mln tons of oil in the short term.