ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 22. Kazakhstan’s
QazaqGaz National Company and Sinopec, an international energy and
chemical company, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
to explore coalbed methane (CBM) extraction projects, Trend reports via
QazaqGaz.
The MoU was signed during a visit by a QazaqGaz delegation to
Beijing. Ulan Burkitov, Deputy Chairman for Geology and Prospective
Projects at QazaqGaz, and Xue Weisong, General Director of Sinopec
International Energy Investment Limited, formalized the
partnership.
The agreement focuses on the joint study of the coalbed methane
potential in the Karaganda coal basin, a significant source of
natural gas in the region, which could play a crucial role in
Kazakhstan’s energy sector.
This collaboration aligns with QazaqGaz’s strategy to expand the
country’s gas resource base. The company noted that it remains open
to partnerships with both local and international firms for the
development of various energy projects, including those focused on
unconventional hydrocarbons.
Sinopec is China’s largest supplier of oil and petrochemical
products, as well as the world’s largest refining company and
second-largest chemical company. Its network of gas stations ranks
second globally. In recent years, it has consistently ranked among
the top companies on Fortune’s Global 500 list.