Kazakhstan petrochemical and metallurgical projects are receiving a major boost, with the government announcing $19.5 billion in investments across five large-scale developments. These strategic initiatives, unveiled at a May 21 cabinet meeting, aim to strengthen the country’s industrial capabilities and generate over 8,000 permanent jobs.
In the Pavlodar Region, a $978 million plant is under construction to process high-carbon sulphide gold-bearing concentrates. Once operational, the facility will handle 300,000 tons of concentrate annually and produce up to 15 tons of gold in doré bars. Located in the Pavlodar Special Economic Zone, it will create around 500 permanent jobs.
Meanwhile, the Atyrau Region is set to become a key petrochemical hub with three new projects:
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A butadiene and derivatives plant, valued at $900 million, will have a production capacity of 305,000 tons per year and is expected to launch by 2028. It will create 750 jobs and is being developed with China Tianchen Engineering Corporation.
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A polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plant, led by KMG PetroChem, will see $1.5 billion invested to produce 735,000 tons of materials annually, creating 400 new jobs.
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The second phase of Kazakhstan’s first integrated gas chemical complex is now underway, aiming to produce 1.25 million tons of polyethylene per year across more than 20 product grades. With a budget of $7.4 billion, the project is scheduled for completion by 2029 and will provide 800 jobs.
Supporting the gas chemical cluster, a $2.7 billion gas separation plant will extract 1.6 million tons of ethane and 355,000 tons of propane each year, adding over 400 jobs to the region.
Additionally, a major expansion of the Shymkent Oil Refinery is planned, doubling its capacity from six million to 12 million tons annually. With an estimated investment of $6 billion, the upgrade will create 5,200 stable jobs and significantly enhance the country’s oil refining capabilities.
These projects mark a major step forward in Kazakhstan’s industrial strategy, aiming to diversify its economy, attract foreign investment, and strengthen its role in global energy and materials markets.