Ministry of Energy Proposes Shifting Some Road Bitumen Purchases to Winter in Mangystau Region

Kazakhstan's Ministry of Energy is proposing a change in the approach to supplying the road construction industry with bitumen. The main goal is to provide contractors with materials before the start of the active construction season.

Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov discussed these issues during a visit to the Caspi Bitum plant in Aktau.

In 2025, the plant completed its modernization ahead of schedule. The refinery's capacity increased to 1.5 million tonnes per year, with maximum road bitumen production reaching 750,000 tonnes annually. The average selling price remains around 165,000 tenge per tonne. The existing production capacity is sufficient to meet the country's domestic demand for road bitumen.

"Kazakh factories can meet the needs of the road construction industry, but the main demand occurs in the summer when most contractors simultaneously begin purchasing. In winter, demand is significantly lower. If part of the purchases are shifted to the off-season, road organizations can acquire bitumen during a calmer period, avoiding seasonal rush. This will allow for more even production loads and prevent queues during dispatch, as well as more efficiently utilizing budget funds in road project implementation," said Yerlan Akkenzhenov.

One solution could be expanding the supply of packaged bitumen. The material can be produced and packaged in winter, then stored outdoors without losing its performance properties and used during the active road work period. Such a format reduces dependence on specialized terminals and storage facilities needed for storing liquid bitumen. It can also reduce the need for additional infrastructure for material storage and the associated capital expenditures.

During his visit to the plant, the minister was also introduced to the polymer-modified bitumen unit. This material is more resistant to high temperatures, heavy traffic loads, and weather fluctuations. If there are requests from road construction companies, the plant can produce up to 200,000 tonnes of polymer-modified bitumen. Experience of use in the Aktobe and Mangystau regions shows that surfaces with such materials maintain their performance characteristics for longer.

The Ministry of Energy, along with interested government bodies, is already working on establishing an industry research center dedicated to the development of modern technologies for road material production and application. Its work will accelerate the introduction of new solutions in road construction.

reports ЖКХ24 citing the Ministry of Energy's website.

Photo: gov.kz