## Kazakhstan and Shell Explore New Gas Processing Plans for Kashagan and Karachaganak Fields
In a strategic move to advance the development of Kazakhstan’s offshore and onshore oil and gas reserves, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy (MOE) and Shell PLC are collaborating to devise extensive development opportunities for the Kashagan and Karachaganak fields. The discussions, held on August 26, centered on the construction of two major gas processing plants to handle the voluminous natural gas output from these fields.
### Meeting Highlights
During the meeting, Almasadam Satkaliyev, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Energy, engaged with senior officials from Shell’s conventional oil and gas division and the company’s local operations. The primary focus was on advancing plans for a 2.5-billion cubic meter per year gas processing plant at the Kashagan field and a 4.5-billion cubic meter per year plant at the Karachaganak field. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy aimed at strengthening their existing partnership and exploring future joint geological projects in the region.
While the meeting marked a crucial step in these developments, neither the MOE nor Shell revealed specific outcomes from the discussions.
### Field Operations and Partnerships
**Kashagan Field:**
– **Partnership:** Shell holds a 16.81% interest in the North Caspian Sea PSA Consortium (NCPSA), which operates the Kashagan field. Other key partners include Kazakhstan’s state-owned JSC NC KazMunayGas (KMG), Eni SPA, ExxonMobil Corp., TotalEnergies SE, China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), and Inpex Corp.
– **Second-Phase Expansion:** The proposed gas plant is part of the first leg of Kashagan’s second-phase (2A) growth project, aiming to increase combined oil and condensate production by approximately 710,000 barrels per day over the next decade. Specifically, oil production is expected to rise to