Kazakhstan, Qatar continue talks on Kashagan gas planKazakhstan’s national gas company QazaqGaz is continuing negotiations with Qatar’s UCC Holding on a second gas processing plant at the Kashagan field and is not seeking new investors for now, the company said Wednesday."The talks and working processes with the Qatari investor continue as scheduled," QazaqGaz said in response to a query from Interfax-Kazakhstan.“All participants in international projects are taking the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East into account,” the company said. “Further decisions on the project will be made based on contractual obligations, economic feasibility and the interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan.”Regarding new investors, the company said the issue is not on the agenda at this stage.“As with any strategically important project, QazaqGaz proceeds from the need to ensure its sustainable implementation and will make decisions based on the national interests of the country,” the company said.The two companies have completed the pre-FEED stage for the proposed plant, which would have an annual capacity of 2.5 billion cubic meters. Plans call for moving to the FEED stage, with contract strategy under discussion.The national company has said the required investment amount for the project has been determined but is subject to refinement during further design work.Kashagan, an offshore oil and gas field in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea, is the country’s largest international investment project. Recoverable reserves are estimated at 9 billion to 13 billion barrels of oil. Commercial production began Nov. 1, 2016.National Company QazaqGaz JSC is the national operator of the gas transmission and distribution network in Kazakhstan. It ensures international transit, sells gas on the domestic and foreign markets, and develops, finances, builds, and operates pipelines and gas storage facilities. The company is part of the Samruk-Kazyna Sovereign Wealth fund. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX