Energy in Kazakhstan describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Kazakhstan and the politics of Kazakhstan related to energy.
Kazakhstan, which has oil, gas, coal and uranium reserves, is a net energy exporter and a leading energy producer in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). It is a major producer of oil, gas, and coal, as well as being the largest producer and exporter of uranium ore in the world. Kazakhstan's oil and gas industry has been intensively developing after 1999.Vakulchuk, R., 2016. Public administration reform and its implications for foreign petroleum companies in Kazakhstan. International Journal of Public Administration, 39(14), pp.1180-1194.https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297675776 China is one of the biggest investors in Kazakhstan's oil and gas industry.Aminjonov, F., Abylkasymova, A., Eshchanov, B., Moldokanov, D., Overland, I. and Vakulchuk, R. 2019. BRI in Central Asia: Energy Connectivity Projects. Central Asia Data-Gathering and Analysis Team (CADGAT), Central Asia Regional Data Review, No 22. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333672992 Aminjonov, F., Abylkasymova, A., Eshchanov, B., Moldokanov, D., Overland, I. and Vakulchuk, R. 2019. BRI in Central Asia: Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Extraction and Processing Projects. Central Asia Data-Gathering and Analysis Team (CADGAT), Central Asia Regional Data Review, No 23. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333673136 Aminjonov, F., Abylkasymova, A., Aimée, A., Eshchanov, B., Moldokanov, D., Overland, I. and Vakulchuk, R. 2019. BRI in Central Asia: Overview of Chinese Projects. Central Asia Data-Gathering and Analysis Team (CADGAT), Central Asia Regional Data Review, No 20. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333673045 Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy commits to 50% of energy consumption coming from renewable or alternative sources by 2050.
+ Energy in KazakhstanIEA Key World Energy Statistics Statistics 2015 , 2014 (2012R as in November 2015 + 2012 as in March 2014 is comparable to previous years statistical calculation criteria, 2013 , 2012 , 2011 , 2010 , 2009 , 2006 IEA October, crude oil p.11, coal p. 13 gas p. 15 Population(million) Primary energy(TWh) Production(TWh) Export(TWh) Electricity(TWh) CO2-emission(Mt) 2004 15.0 638 1,379 742 54.4 162.2 2007 15.5 773 1,582 811 68.9 190.5 2008 15.7 825 1,723 899 73.5 201.6 2009 15.9 766 1,696 931 71.6 189.5 2012 16.6 908 1,863 972 81.0 234.2 2012R 16.79 871 1,915 1,023 85.4 225.8 2013 17.04 948 1,966 994 83.4 244.9 Change 2004-09 6.0% 20.1% 22.9% 25.6% 31.7% 16.9% Mtoe = 11.63 TWh, Prim. energy includes energy losses. 2012R = CO2 calculation criteria changed, numbers updated
According to IEA primary energy supply increased 29% and energy export 21% from 2004 to 2008 in Kazakhstan.
Energy by sources In 2018 about half of energy was from coal and about a quarter each from oil and natural gas. Kazakhstan started looking for ways to use its renewable energy sources. In 2015, an action plan was adopted on the development of renewable energy for the period of 2013 to 2020. Also in 2015, Kazakhstan Investment and Development Minister announced that the country would establish a special fund engaged in financing energy-saving programs. In 2016, Kazakhstan significantly increased the installed capacity of renewable energy facilities, which totaled 251.55 megawatts. It is 1.4 times more than in the same period of 2015.
Oil
Kazakhstan has estimated 30 billion barrels of oil reserves. With 172 oilfields, Kazakhstan possesses 3% of global oil reserves, putting it among the world's top 15 countries in terms of oil reserves.Roman Vakulchuk and Indra Overland (2018) ‘Kazakhstan: Civil Society and Natural Resource Policy in Kazakhstan’, in Indra Overland (ed.) Public Brainpower: Civil Society and Natural Resource Management, Cham: Palgrave, pp. 143–162. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320657015 The main reserves are in five largest onshore oil fields of Tengiz – the largest oil producing field with 565,000 barrels per day of crude in 2011 - Karachaganak, Aktobe, Mangistau, and Uzen, all of which are located in the western part of the country. These hold half of current proven reserves. The offshore fields of Kashagan and Kurmanagazy in the Caspian Sea are estimated to hold minimum 14 million barrels. With 9 – 11 billion barrels, Kashagan is the largest oil field outside of the Middle East. It is estimated to come on stream in 2016 and reach production of 1.5 million barrels per day at its peak. Kazakhstan is a major oil producer with an estimated total production of 1.64 million barrels per day in 2013. The country consumes around 13 percent of the supply domestically and exports the rest to major oil markets. To continue expanding the liquids production above its current levels, the country needs to develop its Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan fields as well as add export capacity.
KazMunayGas (KMG), the national oil and gas company, was created in 2002 to represent the interests of the state in the oil and gas industry. The oil production development has been made possible largely due to significant foreign investment, primarily from the Netherlands and the US in the early 2000s. In 2010, the Kazakh government took away KMG's responsibility to regulate the sector to enable the company's higher level of involvement in the commercial sector. The government now reserves a majority stake for KMG in all new projects and joint ventures. KMG now controls 20 percent of total oil and gas proved reserves of Kazakhstan and produces 27 percent of total oil and gas condensate and 14 percent of gas.
Kazakhstan has three major refineries - Atyrau, Shymkent and Pavlodar. Their combined crude refining capacity amounts to around 350,000 barrels per day, roughly evenly split amongst the three. Due to aged infrastructure, they mostly operate only at 60 percent of their capacity. The government has made significant investment in the modernization of these units to be completed around 2016.
In mid-2016, a group of oil companies led by Chevron announced a $36.8 billion investment deal for the development of Kazakhstan's Tengiz oil field. According to experts, this investment may allow Kazakhstan to become a top 10 oil producer.
Kazakhstan decreased its oil production by 4.3% as part of the agreements reached with the OPEC +. OPEC+, which also includes non-OPEC allies, including Kazakhstan and Russia, agreed in April to a record global oil cut of 9.7 million barrels per day from May 1. In November 2020, the Kazakh Government confirmed that the country fulfilled the OPEC+ obligations by 99%.
Kazakhstan is estimated to have around of crude oil reserves. In 2018, this would make Kazakhstan twelfth in the amount of total proven oil reserves globally. When discovered in the 1990s, the Kashagan oil field was the second largest oil field in the world.Esty, Benjamin C., and Florian Bitsch. "The Kashagan Production Sharing Agreement (PSA)." Harvard Business School Case 213-082, May 2013. (Revised September 2013.) In 2000s, the oil production has increased rapidly due to foreign investment and improvements in production efficiencies. In 2006, Kazakhstan produced 54 million tons of crude oil and 10.5 million tons of gas condensate , which makes Kazakhstan eighteenth-largest oil producer in the world. At these production levels Kazakhstan is thought to have approximately 50 years of remaining production. According to the president Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan is planning to increase its oil production up to of oil a day, of which 3 million will go to export. This will lift Kazakhstan into the ranks of the world's top 10 oil-producing nations. The government views the oil and gas sector as strategically important for the economy and the share of state involvement in the management over petroleum resources remains high.Vakulchuk, R. 2014. Kazakhstan's Emerging Economy: Between State and Market. Frankfurt/Main: Peter Lang Press. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/299731455
The main production sites are the Tengiz field , located on the northeast shores of the Caspian, and the Karachaganak field , located inland near to Russian border. In future Kazakh oil production will also rely on the Kashagan field, the largest oil field outside the Middle East, which possess anywhere from to in recoverable reserves, and the Kurmangazy field in Northern Kazakhstan. There are some smaller oil fields near the Chinese border, which are not developed/operational yet. 76% of Kazakhstan's oil and gas production and remaining reserves are concentrated in these three oil fields, as well as the Uzen Field. 14% of reserves and production are located in 6 further fields.
The leading oil industry is state-owned oil company KazMunayGas. The landmark foreign investment in Kazakh oil industry is the TengizChevroil joint venture, owned 50% by ChevronTexaco, 25% by ExxonMobil, 20% by the Government of Kazakhstan, and 5% by Lukarco of Russia. The Karachaganak natural gas and gas condensate field is being developed by BG, Agip, ChevronTexaco, and Lukoil. Also Chinese, Indian and Korean oil companies are involved in the Kazakhstan's oil industry.
Kazakhstan has three oil refineries: in Pavlodar, in Atyrau, and in Shymkent. Pavlodar and Shymkent refineries process West Siberian crude oil, which is imported through the Omsk (Russia) - Pavlodar (Kazakhstan) - Shymkent - Türkmenabat (Turkmenistan) pipeline.
Recent developments The Kazakhstan 2022 review by the International Energy Agency (IEA) warned that overreliance on oil routes poses short-term risks amid regional instability and sanctions against Russia. Export disruptions in recent years highlighted the need for diversifying oil transit options to ensure economic stability.
In April 2025, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Chevron CEO Michael Wirth to mark the completion of the Tengiz field expansion. They discussed deepening long-term cooperation, boosting local participation, and advancing projects like a 4.5 bcm/year gas processing plant at Karachaganak and a major polyethylene complex. These efforts aim to increase domestic value-added production and reduce dependency on crude exports alone.
The IEA also emphasized pricing reforms in Kazakhstan’s gas sector, where regulated low prices discourage producers from selling domestically. Instead, gas is often re-injected to boost oil output for export. Pricing reform could support diversification and reduce coal reliance.
Kazakhstan is also leveraging its uranium sector to support clean energy goals. In April 2025, Kazatomprom signed a long-term deal with ČEZ to supply uranium to the Temelín nuclear power plant, covering up to one-third of its needs over seven years. This agreement strengthens Kazakhstan’s position in the European energy market and supports its clean energy transition.
Natural gas Kazakhstan's proved natural gas reserves totaled 85 trillion cubic feet as of January 1, 2025. The majority of the natural gas reserves are in the west of Kazakhstan and concentrated in four fields – Karachanganak (46 percent), Tengiz (12 percent), Imashevskoye (7 percent) and Kashagan (12 percent).( US Energy Information Administration Kazakhstan Snapshot 2013) Between 2000 and 2012 natural gas production increased four times to 40.1 billion cubic meters in 2012. However, only 53 percent of this gas was for commercial purposes; the rest was re-injected into oil fields to enhance production.Kazakhstan announces 2012 oil and gas production figures )