Kazakhstan unveils five petrochemical projects worth $12 billion, 20,000 jobs

September 9, 2026 at 06:17 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Kazakhstan plans to implement five major petrochemical projects with total investments of about $12 billion, creating up to 20,000 permanent and temporary jobs. The projects are concentrated in the Atyrau region's special economic zone, with key facilities including a 1.25 million tonne polyethylene plant and a gas separation complex scheduled for 2029. The Ministry of Energy has also drafted a separate law on the petrochemical industry, now under consideration by the Kurultai.

Key Facts

Five petrochemical projects in Kazakhstan will require total investments of about $12 billion.
The projects are expected to create up to 20,000 permanent and temporary jobs.
A polyethylene plant with capacity of 1.25 million tonnes per year is scheduled for commissioning in 2029.
The Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries plant produced 375,000 tonnes of polypropylene in 2025, below its 500,000-tonne design capacity.
The Ministry of Energy has drafted a law on the petrochemical industry, currently under consideration by the Kurultai.

Project Portfolio

The projects are concentrated in the Atyrau region within the National Industrial Petrochemical Technopark special economic zone. The zone currently hosts 19 participants developing production of polypropylene, polyethylene, butadiene, and other petrochemical products. Kazakhstan Petrochemical Industries operates a plant with a design capacity of 500,000 tonnes of polypropylene per year. In 2025, the plant produced 375,000 tonnes, according to the Ministry of Energy.

Planned Facilities

Construction is ongoing for a polyethylene plant with an annual capacity of 1.25 million tonnes, slated for commissioning in 2029. A gas separation complex to supply feedstock for the polyethylene production is also scheduled for launch by 2029. Additional projects include production of up to 339,000 tonnes of butadiene and 880,000 tonnes of urea per year.

Regulatory Framework

The projects are part of a roadmap for petrochemical industry development for 2024–2030, comprising six directions and 34 measures. The roadmap aims to increase domestic processing of raw materials, production volumes, and export potential. The Ministry of Energy has prepared a separate draft law on the petrochemical industry to create long-term conditions for investors. The draft law is currently under consideration by the Kurultai of Kazakhstan.