Kazakhstan Aims to Stabilize Bitumen Supply with Winter Procurement

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy proposed shifting some road bitumen purchases to the winter months to alleviate summer demand spikes and ensure consistent supply for road construction. Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov discussed this initiative during a visit to the Caspi Bitum refinery in Aktau, emphasizing the country’s sufficient production capacity if demand is distributed more evenly throughout the year.

The proposal comes after Caspi Bitum completed a modernization program, increasing its crude oil processing capacity to 1.5 million metric tons annually and bitumen production to 750,000 metric tons. The ministry also suggests increasing the use of packaged bitumen, which can be produced and stored in winter for use during peak season, reducing reliance on specialized storage.

Kazakhstan is also exploring advanced materials like polymer-modified bitumen, capable of producing up to 200,000 metric tons per year, and plans to establish a research center focused on innovative road construction technologies. These efforts aim to improve the durability of Kazakhstan’s road network and optimize the use of budget funds allocated to infrastructure projects.