Results of the Year
Shymkent Oil Refinery: A Rich Past and Impressive Future
In 2025, one of the key companies of Kazakhstan's oil refining industry—the Shymkent Oil Refinery (PetroKazakhstan Oil Products LLP, PKOP)—celebrated its 40th anniversary. Over four decades, the plant has evolved from producing its first batch of gasoline to becoming a modern, high-tech complex that accounts for up to 40% of all petroleum product output in the country. Forty years is not merely a milestone, but an important marker that provides an opportunity to reflect on achievements, evaluate the journey traveled, and look confidently toward the future.
Symbol of Professional Dedication
To mark the anniversary, a memorial stone titled “LK-6U – the Heart of the Refinery” was unveiled on the refinery’s central avenue, paying tribute to the first generations of oil refiners. The monument, created by sculptors Bolat and Yerbolat Kussainov, depicts a metal oil drop, symbolizing life and energy.
Veterans of the refinery recall how the plant was built in the 1980s and how a new industry emerged in the south of the country. Meanwhile, young specialists are confident that the story continues, and today they are writing its next chapter — one that is modern, technological, and responsible.
A History Written Through Hard Work
The history of the Shymkent Refinery began in 1985 with the commissioning of the LK-6U primary oil refining unit — a symbolic milestone marking the beginning of Kazakhstan’s own oil refining industry in the economically developed southern region of the country. The first liters of gasoline were produced on January 28, 1985, and on February 17, the acceptance certificate for the plant's commissioning was signed.
The new refinery was designed to process West Siberian crude oil delivered via main pipelines from the Russian Federation, which was then part of a unified national economic complex. After the collapse of the USSR, the company restructured its technological processes to refine Kazakhstani raw materials—waxy, low-sulfur crude from the Kumkol field in Kyzylorda Region. This required modernization of diesel fuel and jet kerosene hydrotreating units, but simultaneously strengthened the country's energy independence and allowed production to adapt to new economic conditions and domestic raw material sources.
Over the years of operation, Shymkent Oil Refinery has processed over 180 million tons of crude oil, becoming not only an industrial flagship of the country's south, but also a reliable pillar of the Republic's energy security. Behind every milestone stood real people — generations of engineers, operators, power specialists, and chemists who, step by step, wrote the production history of the refinery.
PKOP Products
Motor gasoline: AI-92-K4/K5 and AI-95-K4/K5
Aviation kerosene: TS-1
Diesel fuel: DT-L-K4/K5 (summer), DT-E-K4/K5 (interseason), DT-Z-K4/K5 (winter)
Mazut: furnace 100
Liquefied hydrocarbon gases: BT, PBT
Technical flake sulfur, grade 9990
A New Era: Large-Scale Modernization
A key milestone in the refinery’s history was the comprehensive modernization project implemented by PKOP’s shareholders — the national company KazMunayGas and the China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). The project was carried out in two stages between 2010 and 2018 and became the largest reconstruction in the history of Kazakhstan’s oil refining industry.
The first stage focused on improving product quality to K4 and K5 environmental class standards; the second aimed to increase crude processing depth and expand plant capacity to 6 million tons of crude per year. As a result, high-octane gasoline output nearly doubled, and processing depth reached 88%, corresponding to the level of leading global refineries.
"The most challenging aspect was conducting construction and installation work while maintaining ongoing operations. This required engineering precision and constant interaction with international partners: UOP, Axens, Technip, CPECC, CPE," says Bakhit Yeregenov, First Vice President of PetroKazakhstan Oil Products LLP.
The results of the modernization are impressive: the refinery received unique units, including a heavy residue catalytic cracking unit — one of only ten of its kind in the world. In addition, a light naphtha isomerization unit was commissioned, enabling the production of Euro-4 and Euro-5 grade gasoline. The digitalization of production processes also delivered significant economic benefits, with modern automation and control systems taking refinery management to a qualitatively new level.
Special attention was paid to environmental protection: the plant implemented closed water treatment cycles, deodorization technologies, sealed gasoline loading using Scherzer technology that completely eliminates hydrocarbon vapor emissions, and in 2025 launched an Automated Emission Monitoring System (AEMS) installed on main smokestacks, with online data transmission to environmental control authorities.
This year, the plant is operating without scheduled maintenance shutdowns and intends to process 6.2 million tons of crude oil.
People: The Main Asset
Today, Shymkent Oil Refinery employs approximately 2,000 workers, 98% of whom are Kazakhstani specialists. The average age of the workforce is 41, and this combination of experience and youth makes the company stable and dynamic.
The refinery takes pride in the continuity of generations. Today, those who were present at its very founding work side by side with young engineers educated in the era of digital technologies. One of them is Kirill Yegunov, an instrumentation and control (I&C) technician.
“When I was studying at the South Kazakhstan Polytechnic College in Automation and Control, I already knew that I wanted to build my career at a large, technologically advanced company where I could apply my knowledge, grow professionally, and be part of something truly meaningful. Choosing the Shymkent Refinery was a deliberate decision. It is one of the largest companies in Kazakhstan’s oil refining industry, with a stable market position and an excellent reputation. Today, after the 2018 modernization, the refinery employs the most advanced technologies, including automated and digital control systems. This means that I’m not just performing routine tasks — I work with cutting-edge equipment, constantly learning and improving my skills,” he says with pride.
PKOP places great emphasis on occupational health and safety, employee welfare, and professional development. Staff receive ongoing training and skills upgrading, participate in international knowledge exchange programs, and are provided with medical insurance.
“For me, choosing a workplace is about looking toward the future — I wanted to work at a reliable company that supports professional growth and offers stability. Our modern refinery provides comfortable conditions for its employees and is one of the leading companies in the industry. What attracted me most was the structured work schedule, the team’s cohesion, and the high safety standards at the plant. Another key advantage is that employees’ contributions are valued and the company provides favorable social conditions, which is a great motivation,” says Kairatbek Kaimakov, senior operator, grade 6, at the heavy residue catalytic cracking unit (RFCC).
The refinery has made a significant contribution to Kazakhstan’s economy. Beyond directly supplying the country with fuel, over the past ten years it has paid more than 928 billion tenge in taxes and allocated around 2 billion tenge to sponsorship and charitable initiatives. In line with its commitment to corporate social responsibility, the company has developed new cultural and sports facilities in the region. To mark its anniversary, a covered children’s sports complex was opened in the Badam-1 residential area, designed to accommodate 100 young athletes at a time, alongside a museum dedicated to the refinery’s history. The museum features a unique collection of archival materials and photographs spanning from the start of construction in 1972 to the present day, and an interactive display allows visitors to take a virtual tour of the refinery.
“Environmental protection, safety, employee development, and social responsibility are the four pillars on which the modern Shymkent Refinery stands,” emphasizes Bakhit Yeregenov.
Ensuring the Country's Energy Security
The Shymkent Refinery plays a key role in Kazakhstan’s energy security. And this is not just rhetoric — today the refinery meets around 40% of the country’s total demand for oil products, including gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuel, and liquefied gas. All of its products are sold exclusively on the domestic market, which is especially important for ensuring stable supply to the regions.
After the modernization, the refinery began producing fuel that meets international quality and environmental standards. PKOP’s products are used at filling stations across the country, as well as in aviation and the energy sector.
The refinery’s modern logistics system enables shipments by rail, through a pipeline to the Shymkent Munai Onimderi oil base, and by road transport. This ensures uninterrupted fuel supply and flexibility in working with partners..
Setting a course for the future
PKOP's next strategic goal is to increase processing capacity to 12 million tons per year by 2030.
"Increasing capacity is a matter of national importance. We are considering various technological solutions, while the key requirement is to maintain both environmental and safety standards,” notes the refinery’s director, Bakhit Yeregenov.
Among the challenges of the new modernization project are the need to integrate new capacities into the existing infrastructure, develop petrochemical production, ensure stable energy supply, and manage logistics. In addition, it is essential that the increase in output does not compromise environmental performance or the safety of ongoing operations.
Expanding capacity will not only meet the growing domestic demand (with the refinery’s share of the country’s total fuel production potentially reaching 50%) but also create potential for exporting oil products.
The company’s development strategy is clearly defined:
- deep processing of heavy residues,
- development of petrochemicals,
- low-carbon production,
- digital transformation.
Special attention is being paid to implementing artificial intelligence in predictive analytics systems, optimizing production processes, and improving energy efficiency. These steps have already begun within pilot digital projects.
Four decades ago, the Shymkent Refinery became a hub for engineers and chemists from across Kazakhstan. Today, it is a next-generation company that combines tradition and innovation, experience and youth, technology and environmental responsibility.
Its journey is a story of creation, professionalism, and dedication. That is why the anniversary of the Shymkent Refinery is a celebration not only for the PKOP team but for the entire oil and gas industry of Kazakhstan.
The editorial staff of Petroleum magazine congratulates all plant employees, veterans, and all Kazakhstanis on this momentous occasion. We wish you all good health and new labor victories! We eagerly await achievement of the new processing milestone—12 million tons per year!