Products
When design capacity is achieved in 2027, plant production levels will be as follows:
- bitumen – 7,815 tonnes
- mineral tar mixture – 65,124 tonnes
- mineral tar – 660,243 tonnes
Project
This investment project envisages the production of bitumen rock (mineral tar) at the Munaily-Mola field for further advanced processing. Rock processing involves crushing and pounding mineral tar, removing and modifying bitumen, and also producing various mineral tar mixtures at an asphalt production unit. The Zhylyoi District Akimat (Atyrau Oblast) has allocated a 75.5 ha site on Munaily-Mola field territory (until 17 March 2031 with the option to extend).
Company
Atyrau-Bitum LLP was founded in 2020 to implement the Project to develop and produce bitumen rock (mineral tar) at the Munaily-Mola field. The Project Initiator holds 10-year license No. 70/2021 from 17 March 2021 for the use of a subsoil plot to produce common mineral resources with the option to extend once contracts expire.
Market
- According to the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the annual demand for bitumen is 1.3 million tons.
- Construction and reconstruction of 10.5 thousand km of highways in the Republic of Kazakhstan is planned for 2023.
- In 2022, Kazakhstan's production of oil and shale bitumen amounted to 961 thousand tons. In 2018-2022, the average annual growth rate of oil and shale bitumen production amounted to 0.9%.
- According to the results of 2022, 90% of the volume of bitumen mixtures imported to Kazakhstan (23.4 thousand tons) came from Russia.
- Advantageous location. Having production based in Atyrau Oblast will provide access to the country’s western markets, where road construction is currently in full force. For example, oblast road construction and repairs in 2022 were worth 161 billion tenge (18.8% of the national figure). The production site’s access to a well-developed and extensive rail and road system will help manage both feedstock supplies and finished product supplies to customers. Proximity to a feedstock source (the Munaily-Mola field) will reduce transportation and overhead supply costs, which will improve Project performance.
- Own source of raw materials. The Project has its own source of raw materials, which will help reduce production costs, ensuring the required product quality at a competitive price. The Initiator holds a 10-year license for the use of a subsoil plot to produce common mineral resources (with the option to extend).
The Project requires investment of 5,737 thousand USD (at the rate of 449.2 tenge), of which:
- 70% (4,016 thousand USD) – debt financing subject to collateral;
- 30% (1,721 thousand USD) – investor participation.
