Kazakhstan to develop six coal-to-chemicals projects

Kazakhstan is launching a major industrial push into the downstream sector, with six coal-to-chemicals projects currently underway or under evaluation. The Ministry of Energy announced the strategy as part of a broader national effort to maximize the economic value of the country’s rapidly expanding coal sector and utilize its vast domestic reserves for higher-margin manufacturing.

Kazakhstan holds approximately 33.6 billion tonnes of coal reserves. Its primary deposits are concentrated in the central regions of Karaganda, Turgai, Shubarkol, and Zhalyn, as well as the northeastern fields of Ekibastuz, Maikube, and Karazhyra. While the country has heavily focused on boosting raw production, investments, and thermal coal exports this year, this new initiative marks a decisive pivot toward advanced processing.

Active Infrastructure: Diesel and Metallurgical Coke Production

Three major projects have already moved into active implementation to anchor the country’s industrial coal hubs:

• Pavlodar & Karaganda Diesel Plants: Two separate facilities are being built in these major coal-producing provinces, each engineered with a capacity to produce roughly 100,000 tonnes per year of synthetic diesel directly from coal.

• Karaganda Metallurgical Coke Plant: A massive specialized facility is currently under construction, targeting a production capacity of 1 million tonnes per year to supply the metallurgical sector.

Pipeline Evaluation: Petrochemicals and Synthetic Gas

The Ministry of Energy is also reviewing three additional downstream projects to further diversify the country’s chemical output:

• Advanced Coke-Chemical Facility: Planned for Karaganda, this unit will focus on coal tar processing, benzene production, and advanced coke oven gas purification.

• Ammonia and Urea Complex: Slated for development in the eastern, coal-rich Abay region to support the agricultural and chemical sectors.

• Coal Gasification Plant: A dedicated project focused on synthetic gas production from coal is under consideration, with the Ministry currently evaluating the optimal geographic site for construction.