Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Accelerate Joint Petrochemical Plant Construction

The governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are intensifying efforts to advance a major joint petrochemical project. The focus of recent high-level discussions has been on finalizing the technical and economic feasibility study (TEO) for a new plant.

The facility, slated for construction in Uzbekistan's Kashkadarya region, is designed to produce linear alkylbenzene (LAB), a critical raw material for manufacturing detergents and household chemicals. The project's primary goal is to reduce both nations' reliance on imported cleaning products and create new export opportunities.

This initiative forms a central part of a broader $1.2 billion package of joint projects agreed upon by the presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in November 2025. The commencement of construction work at the Kashkadarya site is scheduled for the autumn of 2025.

In related news, Kazakhstan faces a separate challenge in its domestic petrochemical sector. The Russian company Tatneft has withdrawn from the "Butadiene" project, compelling Kazakh authorities to seek a new partner for the construction of a major plant in the Atyrau region.