Kazakhstan has reset the clock on the two gas processing plants at Kashagan. Citing Energy Ministry data, the prime minister's press service said on October 15 that the 1 billion cubic metre-a-year plant is now expected to begin operating in 2027, while the 2.5 bcm plant is scheduled for completion in 2030. The larger plant already has its EPC contractor: in June a government resolution named a consortium of China National Chemical Engineering Sixth Construction Company's Kazakhstan branch and China Wuhuan Engineering. As of October 15, no signing of the FEED+EPC contract had been reported publicly.
What the government said
The timetable came out of a meeting between Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Moutaz and Ramez Al-Khayyat, executives of Qatar's Power International Holding (PIH). The talks covered gas processing and telecoms. According to the Energy Ministry, PIH takes part in several joint energy projects in Kazakhstan.
At the first plant, construction and installation work continues and delivery of the main equipment is almost complete; start-up is set for 2027. The second plant is being prepared for its main phase and should be finished in 2030. Together the two plants would give Kashagan 3.5 bcm a year of gas processing capacity.
Work also continues on the second line of the Beyneu-Bozoi-Shymkent trunk gas pipeline, where design and the delivery of equipment and materials are under way. Phase one is due in 2027 and phase two in 2029.
Kazakhstan Today, Kazinform and Kursiv carried the same dates that day.
Plant one: not the first delay
Interfax and Kursiv have reported that the first plant was originally due in 2025, then mid-2026, then the end of 2026.
At a government meeting on July 7, QazaqGaz chief executive Alibek Zhamauov said the plant was 61.4% built and 98% of its main process equipment had arrived, with 1,775 workers and 314 pieces of heavy machinery on site around the clock; construction and installation would be finished by the end of 2026. Kazinform and Kapital.kz both reported the figures.
October's wording is start-up in 2027. Mechanical completion and commissioning are different milestones, with pre-commissioning in between, so the two statements need not conflict. The government gave no reason, and no month.
Plant two: a Chinese consortium, but no contract yet
On June 12 Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov chaired a meeting on the 2.5 bcm project. The ministry said a government resolution had approved the Chinese consortium as EPC contractor. Qazinform, Interfax and Orda.kz reported it, and the China Association of Chemical Engineering Construction Enterprises posted the news on June 16. Both companies belong to China National Chemical Engineering Group (CNCEC).
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In July Zhamauov said the FEED+EPC contract was planned for signing in the fourth quarter. Such a contract puts front-end engineering design, detailed engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning with a single contractor.
On September 9 QazaqGaz said Zhamauov had met CNCEC chairman Mo Ding'e in Beijing to discuss wrapping up FEED, moving to the EPC stage and the project's technical and commercial terms. The two sides agreed to align their schedules and keep working on the contract documents. Trend also reported the meeting.
QazaqGaz describes the plant as one that will treat highly sour associated gas using licensed technologies and substantially raise output of marketable gas.
Still not public: the contract value, the signing date, the technology licensor and how roles are split between the consortium and PIH. The government statement says PIH participates in the projects; the Chinese consortium is the engineering contractor, not an investor.
What it means for Chinese companies (editor's view)
This is the editors' reading of public information, not an official position.
The fourth quarter matters for plant two. If the contract is signed this year as indicated in July, design subcontracts, long-lead equipment orders and construction packages would follow. Sour gas treatment needs desulphurisation and sulphur recovery units, so suppliers with that track record may want to watch the contractor's procurement.
The shift on plant one from "complete by end-2026" to "start-up in 2027" is a reminder to build slack into delivery and staffing plans and to keep them in step with the owner's published milestones.
Large projects in Kazakhstan come with local content and foreign labour rules. Contractors and subcontractors should check them early; actual terms depend on the authorities and the contract.
Based on public sources; not investment advice.
Sources:
Office of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, October 15, https://primeminister.kz/ru/news/olzhas-bektenov-obsudil-s-rukovodstvom-katarskogo-holdinga-power-international-holding-hod-realizacii-sovmestnyh-proektov-32001
Kazakhstan Today, October 15, https://www.kt.kz/eng/economy/kazakhstan_plans_two_gas_processing_plants_at_kashagan_by_1378002256.html
Kazinform, October 15, https://www.inform.kz/ru/kazahstan-i-katar-obsudili-realizatsiyu-krupnih-energeticheskih-proektov-a25985f7
Kursiv, October 15, https://kz.kursiv.media/2026-10-15/svan-katarcy-vladeyushie-tele2-i-bereke-bank-zapustyat-dva-gpz-na-kashagane-za-milliardy/
Qazinform, June 12, https://qazinform.com/news/kashagan-gas-processing-plant-enters-construction-phase-cd11cf
Interfax, June 12, https://www.interfax.ru/business/1095548
Orda.kz, https://orda.kz/kitajcy-postrojat-novyj-gpz-na-kashagane-proekt-uzhe-zapustili-415816/
China Association of Chemical Engineering Construction Enterprises, June 16, https://www.cacec.com/news/1703.html
Kazinform, July 7, https://www.inform.kz/ru/nazvani-sroki-zaversheniya-stroitelstva-gpz-na-kashagane-53023427
Kapital.kz, July 7, https://kapital.kz/economic/150118/stroitelstvo-gpz-na-kashagane-planiruyut-zakonchit-k-koncu-2026-goda.html
QazaqGaz, September 9, https://www.qazaqgaz.kz/en/novosti-kompanii/qazaqgaz-zhne-cncec-zhetekshileri-ashaanda-gaz-deu-zauytyn-salu-bojynsha-kezdesu-tkizdi
Trend, September 9, https://www.trend.az/casia/kazakhstan/4222331.html
The cover is an AI-generated illustration, not a photograph, and does not depict the event directly.
Key facts
- The Government of Kazakhstan said that the No. 1 Kashagan gas processing plant is planned to enter operation in 2027.
- The Government of Kazakhstan said that the No. 2 Kashagan gas processing plant is planned for completion in 2030.
- Once the two Kashagan gas processing plants are completed, their combined gas processing capacity will be 3.5 billion cubic meters per year.
- The consortium comprising 中国化学工程第六建设公司哈萨克斯坦分公司 and 中国五环工程 was designated as the EPC contractor for the No. 2 plant.
- QazaqGaz said that the FEED+EPC contract for the No. 2 plant was expected to be signed in the fourth quarter.
- QazaqGaz said that the No. 2 plant would process high-sulfur associated gas and use licensed process technology to purify it.
FAQ
When are the two Kashagan gas processing plants planned to enter operation or be completed?
The No. 1 plant is planned to enter operation in 2027, while the No. 2 plant is planned for completion in 2030. Once the two plants are completed, Kashagan's total gas processing capacity will be 3.5 billion cubic meters per year.
Who is the EPC contractor for the No. 2 plant?
The consortium comprising 中国化学工程第六建设公司哈萨克斯坦分公司 and 中国五环工程. The consortium was designated as the EPC contractor for the No. 2 plant by a government resolution in June.
Has the FEED+EPC contract for the No. 2 plant been signed?
As of October 15, no contract-signing announcement had been made public. QazaqGaz previously said that the contract was expected to be signed in the fourth quarter.
Why was the planned start of operations for the No. 1 plant rescheduled from the end of 2026 to 2027?
In July, the announced schedule was for construction and installation to be completed by the end of 2026; in October, the announced schedule was for the plant to enter operation in 2027. Commissioning and trial operation must be completed between these two milestones, and the authorities have not explained the reason for the adjustment.
Have the contract value and the division of responsibilities among the Chinese participants been disclosed?
Public sources have not disclosed the contract value, signing date, process technology licensor, or the specific division of responsibilities between the Chinese consortium and PIH.