The country has launched production of benzene and para-xylene, petroleum bitumen, and domestic polypropylene and polyethylene are being produced.

“In the petrochemical direction after the modernization of the Atyrau refinery has been completed, the production of benzene and para-xylene is being launched for export. This year, 14 thousand tons were produced, and in 2019 it is planned to produce up to 600 thousand tons, ”said the Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev in the Central Communications Service.

According to the Minister, the internal demand of the road industry in oil bitumen, which production amounted to 822 thousand tons, i.e. 112% by 2017.

“For 2 years, the growth of bitumen production has been doubled,” the speaker stressed.

At the same time, he noted a decline in exports of bitumen, which is carried out in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan.

“The export of bitumen in the current year amounted to 65 thousand tons. For comparison: in 2017, 99 thousand tons were exported. The decline in exports is due to the increasing demand of the domestic market, ”the minister explained.

In addition, Kanat Bozumbayev said that in June of this year in the Atyrau region began construction of a large project for the production of polypropylene, with a capacity of 500 thousand tons / year, worth $ 2.6 billion.

“The project has been implemented since 2010. In total, 900 workplaces are already involved in the construction phase, and in the period of active construction, up to 3,000 workplaces will be involved, and starting from 2021 after the launch of the complex - 500 permanent, ”the speaker said.

A second “anchor” project started - the production of polyethylene.

“Its capacity is 1.25 million tons / year, it is a joint project with a world-class strategic partner (Borealis). In 2018, a project company was jointly established, and the development of a full-scale feasibility study began. The cost of the project is 6.5 billion dollars. Construction period: 2021-2025. At the construction stage, there are 6,000 jobs, and at the operation stage, 700, ”the Minister of Energy informed.