The International Center for Oil and Gas Engineering Development creates new business opportunities

The International Center for Oil and Gas Engineering Development (IMBC) was established as a tool for developing domestic industry and systematically integrating Kazakhstani manufacturers into the supply chain of the country's largest oil and gas projects. The organization was established on the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan by the largest field operators — Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan — whose shareholders include such international companies as Chevron, ENI, Shell, and other transnational corporations.  

As noted by IMBC CEO Dastan Abishev, the uniqueness of the center lies in the fact that, for the first time, Kazakhstani manufacturers and investors have been given access to consolidated information on the projected needs of major operators for oil and gas equipment, including technical requirements. The center's key task is to promote the development of the potential of domestic manufacturers, build sustainable cooperation between operators and the machine-building industry, and create new production facilities, jobs, and domestic added value.

In 2025, with the support of JSC NC KazMunayGas, operators of promising projects joined IMBC: Kalamkas-Khazar Operating, Silleno, and KMG PetroChem joined IMBC. This made it possible to expand the analytical coverage and more thoroughly assess the structure of demand for products within the country's key oil and gas and petrochemical projects. According to Dastan Abishev, access to demand forecasts is a fundamental element for the development of any manufacturing business.

“Any production relies on reliable and timely market information. Understanding expected demand volumes and technical requirements allows for advance planning of investments, production capacities, and supply chains,” he explains.

In general, oil and gas engineering has a high multiplier effect. Its development stimulates the growth of related industries: metallurgy, chemical industry, logistics, engineering and services, creating a sustainable industrial ecosystem.

During its work, IMBC has already achieved concrete practical results. For the first time, consolidated data on more than 110,000 analyzed commodity items, accounting for more than 80% of the direct purchases of three operators, was presented to the market. More than 100 types of goods have high forecast demand. At the same time, IMBC specialists visited and studied more than 250 production sites throughout Kazakhstan. Individual capacity development plans were developed for 18 enterprises, taking into account the requirements of operators.

As a result, operators have awarded more than 190 contracts for IMBC products in recent years and placed orders totaling more than $700 million with local manufacturers.

All this has been made possible thanks to the systematic and coordinated work of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the authorized body of PSA LLP, three major operators, manufacturers, and IMBC.

“These are not just numbers — they represent new jobs, increased confidence in Kazakhstani factories, and recognition of their technological potential at the level of major international projects,” notes Dastan Abishev.

IMBC's work is based on practical interaction with business. Based on the results of analyzing forecast demand and market opportunities, the center's specialists identify synergies between the needs of operators and the potential of domestic manufacturers. Experts visit enterprises, study production processes, assess compliance with technical requirements, identify gaps, and formulate recommendations for their elimination. After implementing the recommendations, the enterprise has the opportunity to be recommended to operators as meeting the established requirements.

Among the success stories is Kazenergokabel JSC, which was the first cable and wire manufacturer in Kazakhstan to receive IECEE international certification for certain types of products. This opened up access to contracts with oil and gas operators for the company. Kazelectromash LLP followed a similar path, receiving IECEE certification for a batch of power cables. Obtaining international certificates significantly expands the potential of Kazakhstani manufacturers and opens up opportunities for them to enter export markets.

A separate area of IMBC's work is related to technology transfer and attracting investment. Together with investors, the center develops localization cases and roadmaps, which are then submitted to operators for consideration. This allows the key parameters of projects and the stages of their implementation to be determined. One example is the cooperation with Chemelex, a global leader in electrical thermal and sensor solutions. The company plans to localize the production of self-regulating heating cables in Kazakhstan, with serial production scheduled to start in 2026–2027. The relevant cooperation agreement was signed during the Central Asia–US (C5+1) summit during the official visit of Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to the US. In addition, localization projects have already been implemented with the participation of large companies from the US, Italy, and Germany, whose technologies are currently being used in key oil and gas projects in Kazakhstan.

As is well known, international standards such as ASME, API, IEC, and others have long been a significant barrier for domestic manufacturers. The high cost of certification limited the ability of Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak operators to participate in procurement. As a result of joint efforts by the IMBC and the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the threshold for reimbursement of certification costs was increased from 3,000 to 15,000 MCI, which significantly expanded opportunities for domestic enterprises.

A separate event was the annual Oil and Gas Engineering Forum and Operators' Open Day, held on October 10 in Aktau with the support of the Ministry of Energy, members of the Mazhilis of the Parliament, JSC NC KazMunayGas, PSA LLP, and operators. The event was attended by more than 550 people, including representatives of over 200 Kazakh and foreign companies. For the first time, more than 100 technical specialists from the largest oil and gas and petrochemical operators gathered in one place to familiarize manufacturers with electronic catalogs of purchased goods and answer their questions.

As a result of the forum, 33 contracts were signed for the supply of goods, works, and services worth over $440 million, as well as 19 memoranda of cooperation.

"A separate area of IMBC's work is related to the digitalization of the industry. An IMBC online platform is currently being developed, which will become a single digital window for interaction between operators and verified manufacturers. The platform will contain a list of manufacturers that have passed preliminary assessment, as well as information about their products and technical capabilities," summarized Dastan Abishev.