The Chairman of the Management Board of Samruk-Kazyna JSC Nurlan Zhakupov paid a working visit to the Mangystau region. The Head of the Fund visited several facilities: the Sarsha gas pipeline, CASPI BITUMEN LLP and the Aktau Seaport.

Nurlan Zhakupov noted that the Sarsha gas pipeline was put into operation six months late. “The delay in the construction of the gas pipeline occurred due to the change of the contractor and financing problems. It’s a good thing that we could cope with these difficulties. A strategically important project for the region, worth KZT7.5 billion, has been completed. Therefore, it was important to start the trip with this object”, - the Head of the Fund said. An underground highway with a length of 60 kilometers made it possible to gasify the Sarsha area and the Warm Beach resort area near Aktau. The project helps to attract investment in tourist facilities and development of business in the region.

During a visit to the plant of CASPI BITUMEN LLP, the Head of the Fund set the task to attract a competent contractor capable of increasing promptly the refining capacity by 1.5 times – up to 1.5 million tons of crude oil per year (Karazhanbasmunai JSC is the only company of JSC NC KazMunayGas producing high-viscosity bituminous oil up to 2.2 million tons per year). In addition, Nurlan Zhakupov stressed the need to form a timely pre-order for bitumen from consumers. During the winter months and almost until April, the plant does not operate at full capacity due to low demand and lack of pre-orders from consumers. At the same time, traditionally, every year at the peak of road construction works, demand increases many times. The Head of the Fund instructed to start working in this direction with road construction companies and to consider the possibilities of expanding the use of packaged bitumen.

In Aktau Commercial Sea Port, the Chairman of the Management Board of Samruk-Kazyna JSC also got acquainted with the activities of the Kuryk port, Aktau Sea Northern Terminal and Kazmortransflot. “The current geopolitical situation has influenced the interest in Kazakhstan’s seaports. It is important for colleagues to consider this point in their work. Not just to take note, but to extract useful information”, - Nurlan Zhakupov said. European countries are particularly interested in the “Middle Route” or TITR (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route). Therefore, Kazakhstan, in the conditions of growing international competition, must ensure the role of the safest partner for cargo delivery. In this regard, the Head of the Fund recommended approaching the problem of shallowing of the Caspian Sea and dredging of the water area of the ports of Aktau and Kuryk, as well as the loss of revenue from cargo turnover strategically with forecast scenarios for decades to come. Regarding the container hub project, Zhakupov stressed that “there are still no firm agreements with any of the investors”. He instructed to accelerate the pace of implementation of this project.