Kazakh Oil & Gas Minister: Strategic goal - to ensure domestic energy needs

"Construction of Beineu-Bozoi-Shymkent gas pipeline section will start in late summer. It will ensure steady gas supply to southern regions of Kazakhstan and Almaty. Now gas is supplied by Uzbekistan. The pipeline will largely solve the environmental problem in Almaty," Mynbayev noted.

The Minister touched upon the issue of foreign investment in oil and gas sector. He noted that the share of Chinese involvement in this sector is less than 22 percent. "The process of participation of foreign companies in this sector must be monitored," he stressed.

According to him, China is a huge market and it is not quite correct to think that it should not be present in Kazakhstan. "It is clear that Europe is comfortable for the Kazakhstan market in all respects. Market basis of Kazakh supplies to the European market is an important and key area, especially regarding oil. But there are limitations. We enjoy a good level of cooperate with Russia. Now the share of Kazakhstan in the CPC is 28 million tons of oil, and it will reach 52 million tons. In terms of tariffs it is the most profitable route. If we talk about gas, then we do not have access to European markets. In this sense, the existence of such market like China is important for Kazakhstan," the Oil and Gas Minister emphasized.