Kazakhstan plans to launch Kartaly (Russia) – Astana gas pipeline in third quarter of 2014

Kazakhstan plans to launch Kartaly-Astana gas pipeline in the third quarter of 2014, Kazakh National Company KazMunaiGas told Trend via e-mail on Friday.

According to KazMunaiGas, the feasibility study of the project has been revised and the updated project envisages reduction of pipeline capacity from 6 to 3 billion cubic meters of gas.

“Following a series of meetings in Kazakh Oil and Gas Ministry with design institutes (Kazakh Oil and Gas Institute and KATEK Design and Research Company) and Kazakh Agency for Construction and Housing, a decision was taken to optimize the technical and economic indicators of the feasibility study in accordance with consumption in near-term period without transfer of industrial consumers and consumers of fuel and energy complex to natural gas,” KazMunaiGas said.

The project optimization has been approved by the Kazakh President.

According to KazMunaiGas, West-North-Centre main gas pipeline construction through Tobol — Kokshetau — Astana will cost 208.4 billion tenge. The construction of the Kartaly — Astana pipeline is scheduled to start in 2013. The pipeline will run from Russian Kartaly through Kazakh Kokshetau and Kostanay to Astana. The pipeline will supply Russian gas to Kazakh city of Astana.