Kazakhstan and ExxonMobil Discuss Major Oil and Gas Projects at Houston Forum

Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy, Yerlan Akkenshenov, held a working meeting with ExxonMobil's President of Upstream, Dan Ammann, during the international CERAWeek energy forum in Houston, USA.

The parties discussed the current status of their strategic partnership and the role of American capital in Kazakhstan's macroeconomy. Minister Akkenshenov emphasized that the oil and gas sector accounts for up to 20% of Kazakhstan's GDP, with ExxonMobil being one of its largest investors. A key achievement of their joint work on fundamental projects like Tengiz and Kashagan is the high level of local content development, where Kazakhstani specialists now exceed 90%.

Special attention was paid to production results from the past year. The head of the Ministry of Energy positively assessed the successful completion of the Future Growth Project (FGP) at the Tengiz field. Regarding the North Caspian Project (Kashagan), meeting participants reviewed initiatives to increase production volumes and develop gas processing capacities necessary for creating high-value-added products within Kazakhstan.

Alongside production issues, discussions covered diversifying export routes for reliable transportation of Kazakh hydrocarbons.

A key part of negotiations focused on prospects for further developing oil and gas cooperation. The minister outlined a firm state position: long-term partnership must be aimed at ensuring maximum economic benefit for Kazakhstan while unconditionally preserving the industry's investment attractiveness for international partners.

Concluding the meeting, both sides confirmed mutual interest in stable implementation of production expansion programs. Further cooperation will be based on principles of transparent partnership and strict protection of Kazakhstan's national interests.