Understanding Kazakhstan’s Three Major Refineries: Atyrau, Pavlodar and Shymkent

Kazakhstan’s Refining Industry: A Buyer’s Perspective

Kazakhstan produces approximately 90 million tonnes of crude oil per year, making it one of the top fifteen oil-producing nations globally. But for international petroleum buyers, the more relevant question is not how much crude Kazakhstan extracts — it is how much of that crude is refined domestically, into what products, to what quality standards, and how reliably those products can be exported.

The answer lies in three refineries: Atyrau, Pavlodar, and Shymkent. Together they form the backbone of Kazakhstan’s petroleum product supply. Understanding each facility — its feedstock, capacity, product slate, and recent upgrade history — gives buyers the context to evaluate supplier offers with confidence.

Atyrau Oil Refinery

Located in western Kazakhstan on the Ural River, the Atyrau refinery is the oldest of the three, originally built in 1945. It sits close to the Tengiz and Kashagan oilfields, giving it a logistical advantage in crude supply. Following a major reconstruction programme completed in 2019, Atyrau now processes approximately 5.5 million tonnes of crude per year.

The reconstruction upgraded the refinery to Euro-5 product standards and added a hydrocracking unit, enabling the production of low-sulphur diesel (EN590 10ppm), aviation kerosene (TS-1/JP54 and Jet A-1 grades), and lower-sulphur fuel oil fractions. Before the upgrade, Atyrau primarily produced Euro-2 standard fuels. The modernisation was jointly funded by the Kazakhstani government and Chinese investment partners.

Primary products from Atyrau: EN590 diesel, automotive gasoline (AI-92, AI-95), aviation kerosene, fuel oil (Mazut M100), and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The refinery’s proximity to Aktau port (approximately 470km by road) makes it a key source for FOB Caspian exports.

Pavlodar Petrochemical Plant

The Pavlodar refinery in northern Kazakhstan is the largest of the three, with a processing capacity of approximately 7.5 million tonnes per year. Unlike Atyrau and Shymkent, which process primarily domestic Kazakhstani crude, Pavlodar is predominantly fed by Russian crude transported via the Omsk pipeline from Western Siberia. This arrangement dates to the Soviet era and continues under a long-term supply agreement between Kazakhstan and Russia.

Pavlodar underwent a modernisation programme between 2014 and 2018, adding a catalytic cracking unit and hydrotreating capacity. Its product slate includes diesel fuel, petrol (gasoline), aviation kerosene, bitumen, and base oils. Pavlodar is the primary domestic source of road bitumen and base oils in Kazakhstan, and these products are exported to Russia, Uzbekistan, and China.

For international buyers, Pavlodar-origin product typically moves east by rail toward the China border crossings at Alashankou and Khorgos, or south by rail toward Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Due to its northern location and Russian crude dependency, Pavlodar pricing is more closely tied to Russian market benchmarks than to Brent-linked Gulf pricing.

Shymkent Oil Refinery (PKOP)

The Shymkent refinery — formally known as PetroKazakhstan Oil Products (PKOP) — is located in southern Kazakhstan, close to the Uzbekistan border. It is the most recently modernised of the three, completing a comprehensive upgrade in 2018 that brought it to full Euro-5 capability. The refinery processes approximately 6 million tonnes per year of crude from the Kumkol and Turgai fields in central Kazakhstan.

Shymkent produces the widest product range of the three refineries: EN590 10ppm diesel, AI-92 and AI-95 gasoline, Jet A-1 aviation kerosene, LPG, base oils, and road bitumen. Its geographic position makes it the natural supplier for Central Asian export markets (Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan) and the preferred source for China-bound rail shipments via the southern Kazakh rail corridor.

PKOP is jointly owned by KazMunayGas and China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC). For buyers sourcing Jet A-1 grade kerosene for CIS or Central Asian aviation, Shymkent is typically the most competitive origin.

Combined Capacity and the National Supply Picture

Together, the three refineries process approximately 19 million tonnes of crude per year, producing roughly 14–15 million tonnes of refined petroleum products annually. Domestic consumption accounts for approximately 10–11 million tonnes, leaving 3–4 million tonnes available for export in a typical year. Export volumes fluctuate depending on domestic demand cycles, seasonal maintenance shutdowns at each facility, and crude supply agreements.

Buyers should note that all three refineries operate planned annual turnarounds, typically in spring or autumn, during which export availability may be reduced for 3–6 weeks. LLP Kamenistoe-Neft monitors refinery scheduling and can advise buyers on availability windows when planning large-volume or time-sensitive contracts.

What This Means for Your Purchase

The refinery of origin matters for your purchase because it affects product quality consistency, documentation format, lead time, and export corridor options. Atyrau-origin product best suits buyers taking FOB Caspian delivery. Shymkent-origin product is preferred for Central Asia and China rail delivery. Pavlodar is the dominant source of base oils and bitumen for the region.

LLP Kamenistoe-Neft sources product from all three refineries and can advise on the most suitable origin for your specific product, destination, and delivery timeline. Contact our trading desk to discuss your requirements.

Explore further: Our refinery operations overview — Full petroleum product catalogue — Export logistics guide — Kazakhstan refining strategy 2025–2040