Crude Oil Sourcing & Supply Chain

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Crude Oil Sourcing & Supply Chain

Kazakhstan holds the world’s 12th-largest proven oil reserves, with the majority of the country’s hydrocarbon wealth concentrated in its western regions — precisely where KazNPZ operates. Our feedstock strategy is built on proximity: we process crude oils produced from fields in and around the Mangystau Region, reducing transportation costs, supply chain risks, and carbon footprint compared to refineries reliant on long-distance crude imports.

Primary Feedstock: Mangystau Heavy Crude

The oilfields of the Mangystau Region — including the historically significant Karazhanbas field, discovered in 1974 and holding recoverable reserves of approximately 96.9 million tons — produce heavy crude oil grades with API gravities typically in the 18–24° range. These crude grades are rich in heavy distillate fractions and atmospheric residue, making them well-suited to bitumen production.

Supply Chain Infrastructure

KazNPZ benefits from western Kazakhstan’s well-developed oil gathering and transportation infrastructure:

Pipeline connections from nearby producing fields into the Aktau refinery complex
Road and rail tanker flexibility for supplementary crude supply when pipeline capacity requires
Crude oil storage tanks providing operational buffer to maintain continuous refinery throughput
Proximity to the KazTransOil pipeline network operated by KazMunaiGas

Crude Flexibility & Future Sourcing

While our primary feedstock is Mangystau heavy crude, KazNPZ’s process units have been designed with feedstock flexibility in mind. As Kazakhstan’s upstream sector grows — with expansions at Tengiz (the Tengizchevroil FGP-WPMP project) and ongoing Kashagan production ramp-up — additional crude grades may become available to western Kazakhstan refiners. KazNPZ is positioned to evaluate and incorporate diversified crude slates as opportunities arise.