Oil development over 16 years of Kazakhstan’s independence. The republic’s westernmost city, Atyrau, is very often called the oil capital of Independent Kazakhstan. In 1993, the city was the first in the state to attract large foreign investment. Today, over 300 foreign and joint enterprises engaged in the oil sphere are in operation in Atyrau. Over the past years, oil extraction volumes have significantly increased with a number of projects, known far beyond the republic, having also appeared.

Todd Levy, general director, “Tengizchevroil” company:
- Today 80% of among 3 200 employees are Kazakhstanis who can work at most modern oil enterprises in any country. We think it is our most important contribution into the strengthening of republic’s competitiveness. We lived here during most difficult years. That’s why we can say Kazakhstan achieved in policy and economy and it gained success by receiving the right to chair OSCE in 2010.

Testing of the first phase of second generation objects has taken place in the Tengiz oil deposit, launching a new technological oil processing installation, with hydrocarbon extraction expected to enlarge from 14 million tonnes per year to reach 25 million tonnes. New technologies will also help cut environmental pollution as all the accompanied gas brought up with the oil will be pumped back into the surface in a project to exceed 5 billion dollars.
A large-scale north-Caspian project has also become a visiting card of Kazakhstan with the whole world having learnt about the Kashagan oil field with its 9 million tonne reserves.

Dzhandos Akimzhanov, deputy head of Atyrau region:
- The Atyrau region has vast oil reserves and is always interested in investment. Thanks to the wise policy of our President, Kazakhstan has great opportunities to attract foreign investors with the Atyrau region having over 30% of the total amount of investment. That allowed us to increase oil extraction to reach 17.2 million tonnes of oil and over 7 billion cubic metres of gas in 2006 alone.

Oil extraction in the region changed the life of residents of Ayyrau. Over 400 square meters of dwelling are put to exploitation every year. The whole villages move to new flats. Nurlan and Zhanylsyn Satpayevs are oil workers. Recently they lived in a remote village in ecologically unfavorable settlement. And now they moved to new cottages.
In compliance with the President s’ instruction, the construction of Kazakhstan’s first ever petrochemical complex is to begin in the Atyrau region. The plant is expected to produce polyethylene of low and high density and various types of polypropylene, styrene and polystyrene. The complex’s main purpose is to create a deep procession of hydrocarbon raw materials with high added value.