GPC Investment plans to launch processing of 1 billion cubic meters of associated petroleum gas from the Kashagan field at a gas processing plant (GPP) in the fourth quarter of 2027. This is stated in the conclusion on determining the scope of the environmental impact assessment, signed by Alibek Bekmukhametov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Environmental Regulation and Control, reports infohub.kz.
GPC Investment's ownership structure is distributed as follows: 75% belongs to Qatar's UCC Holding, and the remaining 25% to QazaqGaz.
From the annually processed 1 billion cubic meters of associated petroleum gas, it is planned to produce 115,500 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, i.e., autogas.
"The planned activity: a gas processing plant... The construction and installation work period is envisaged for 2026-2027. Residual construction and installation work in 2027 is planned until the facility is put into operation. Operation of the facility is planned from the fourth quarter of 2027," the document presented for public hearings says.
The construction site of the gas processing plant is located in the Makat district of Atyrau region. The future enterprise is being built near the Kashagan field: 12.6 km northeast of the existing Bolashak GPP, 25 km east of the Karabatan railway siding, and 60 km from the city of Atyrau. The district center Makat is 63 km from the facility, and the abolished village of Yeskene is 6.8 km away. The Caspian Sea is more than 70 km away.
On a plot of 360 hectares, in addition to the plant, a temporary rotational camp with warehouses and other facilities will be located. By a resolution of the akimat of Makat district of Atyrau region, a sanitary protection zone radius of 3,300 meters with a total area of 5,141.2 hectares has been established.
The raw material for the GPP will be associated petroleum gas from Kashagan. It will be supplied to the plant via a 400 mm diameter pipeline under a pressure of at least 5.8 MPa.
From 1 billion cubic meters of gas, it is planned to produce 727 million cubic meters of commercial gas, 115,500 tonnes of liquefied gas, 17,000 tonnes of gas condensate, and 218,500 tonnes of granulated sulfur.
Commercial gas will be supplied to the Makat-North Caucasus main gas pipeline. Liquefied gas, condensate, and sulfur are planned to be transported by rail and road.
At the same time, the committee noted the need to clarify the sanitary protection zone of the facility and assess the possible impact of construction on rare species of plants and animals, including birds listed in the Red Book.