Oil Chronicles
Oil Chronicles. March 2026
March
March 1, Nurtaza Ibrashev was appointed General Director of Karazhanbasmunai JSC. Born in 1984, he graduated from the Atyrau Institute of Oil and Gas with a degree in oil and gas field development. He began his career as a driller's assistant. Over the years, he has worked at KazburGas, Parker Drilling, AgipKCO, and NCOC. In 2020-2022, he worked in the KazMunayGas Group, where he oversaw oilfield service subsidiaries. Before this appointment, he was General Director of Munaitelecom LLP.
From March 1, Kazakhstan raised the export customs duty on crude from USD 64 per ton in February to USD 69 per ton. This was made possible because the average price of KEBCO and Brent grades on world markets during the monitoring period from January 20 to February 20 rose to USD 69 per barrel.
Samruk-Kazyna Fund began cutting administrative and managerial staff at the Astana offices of its portfolio companies. According to fund head Nurlan Zhakupov, the cuts will affect around 650 employees out of the 6.5 thsd. working in the capital. He stressed that the optimisation will not affect production units. The reorganisation is to be completed by the end of March.
March 5, the Ministry of Energy and Shell Kazakhstan signed a contract for geological exploration of the Zhanaturmys block in the Aktobe region. The 1,377 sq km block is located in one of Kazakhstan’s most promising oil and gas basins. The block was previously held by PC Qassinoil LTD, which had purchased it at an electronic auction. According to geologists, the block has significant oil and gas potential, supported by the discovery of hydrocarbon fields in both subsalt and suprasalt formations on adjacent blocks.
The work programme includes 3D seismic surveys and the potential drilling of a deep exploration well. The contract runs until 2032. The project will be carried out under the terms of an improved model contract, which provides for regulatory and fiscal preferences. Over the life of the contract, Shell will direct at least 100 mln tenge to financing the socio-economic development of the region in which the block is located.
March 5, Baitak Aliyev was appointed Deputy General Director of AstanaGas KMG JSC. A graduate of the Gubkin Moscow Institute of Oil and Gas and of the Russian Government Academy of National Economy, he holds a Candidate of Economic Sciences degree. From 2015 to 2018, he was Deputy General Director for Production at AstanaGas KMG JSC, after which he served as Deputy General Director for Production at KazTransGas Aimak JSC and as Chairman of the Management Board of the National Industrial Petrochemical Technopark SEZ.
KMG Rompetrol Development, with the support of an EU grant, has completed a pilot project on the A1 motorway (Romania-Hungary corridor), where 11 ultra-fast 300 kW charging stations have been installed at Rompetrol gas stations. The stations are integrated with the Rompetrol EV-Charge app and provide fast, convenient service to customers.
The next stage of the roll-out has received EU grant financing of EUR 3 mln and provides for the deployment of 52 charging points at 22 sites, including 37 stations of 150 kW for passenger cars and 15 stations of 350 kW for electric trucks and heavy-duty transport.
The project fits directly into the regulatory framework for the development of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Under the EU Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation (AFIR), member states are required to ensure the installation of charging stations with a minimum capacity of 150 kW every 60 km along key TEN-T corridors by 2026. The requirements for heavy-duty transport are even stricter, requiring the deployment of infrastructure with a capacity of up to 350 kW on the main logistics routes.
Karachaganak Petroleum Operating has been fined 2 bln tenge for environmental violations. The fine was imposed by the West Kazakhstan regional environmental department following an unscheduled inspection, during which it was found that, in 2024, the company had exceeded permitted limits for pollutant emissions and wastewater discharges.
“On the facts identified, the company has been held administratively liable. The total amount of the imposed fine is 2.07 bln tenge. The deadline for voluntary payment of the fine has not yet expired,” the Environmental Regulation and Control Committee said in a statement.
Kevin Lyon, former General Director of Tengizchevroil from 2021 to 2025, has been appointed Chief Strategy Officer of Chevron Corporation following the successful integration of Hess Corporation into Chevron. He will work at the company's headquarters in Houston, USA.
His predecessor as head of TCO, Eimear P. Bonner, is also currently serving as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Chevron.
Kazakhstan has received notice of international arbitration over a USD 5 bln claim filed by the operator of the North Caspian project, NCOC. The investors are contesting an environmental fine imposed on them for storing sulphur produced at Kashagan. According to the Ministry of Justice's press service, the government's interests in court will be represented and defended by PSA LLP, with the Ministry of Justice providing legal and advisory support. PSA LLP has also signed an 11.9 bln tenge contract for the procurement of advisory and legal services, and for representation of clients' interests in international arbitrations and court disputes relating to the North Caspian project, with the law firm Squire Patton Boggs Kazakhstan Ltd.
The claim for payment of a fine of approximately USD 5.1 bln for excess sulphur storage in 2023 was filed against NCOC by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Ecology.
Environmental authorities have fined the Atyrau Oil Refinery 6.92 mln tenge following complaints from residents of nearby districts about a sharp, unpleasant odour. According to Yerbolat Umarov, head of the regional natural resources department, the fine was imposed for breaches of legislation on sanitary and epidemiological well-being of the population and on hygiene standards. The official did acknowledge, however: "Several enterprises operate in this area, and so it is not possible to state categorically that the smell came specifically from ANPZ."
Apparently, for that reason, the plant denies any involvement in the elevated hydrogen sulphide content in the air, does not consider itself a source of emissions, and intends to challenge the penalty in court.
The Caspi Bitum plant has completed the repair work it began in February and is ramping up bitumen production. Through the end of March, it plans to produce 20 thsd. tons. Overall, the country's March output of road bitumen will be 46% higher than in February, at 62 thsd. tons versus 42.5 thsd. To avoid a shortage ahead of the start of large-scale spring road works, the government will introduce a temporary ban on bitumen exports, Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov announced at the ministry's board meeting.