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Kazakhstan's largest petrochemical project: the first piles for a polyethylene plant were driven in Atyrau

On March 31, 2025, on the territory of the special economic zone "National Industrial Petrochemical Technopark" in Atyrau region, the first piles were driven into the base of the future Sileno polyethylene production plant.

The large-scale construction was launched by Akim of Atyrau region Serik Shapkenov, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC NC KazMunayGas (KMG) Askhat Khasenov, Vice Minister of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kudaibergen Arymbek, Member of the Management Board — Executive Director of SIBUR Pavel Lyakhovich and Senior Vice President of Sinopec Wang Tao.

The construction of the plant with a capacity of 1.25 million tons of polyethylene per year and an investment volume of more than $7 billion is scheduled to be completed in 2028 and production will start in 2029. Sileno will become one of the large-scale projects in the manufacturing industry of Kazakhstan.

The plant will be able to produce more than 20 grades of polyethylene used in key industries.

The project will have a multiplicative positive effect on the national economy already at the construction stage and contributes to the growth of Kazakhstan's non-primary exports. Silleno products will play an important role in replacing polyethylene imports, making it possible to replace about 90% of the imported assortment. According to the Bureau of National Statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in 2024 the polyethylene market in Kazakhstan amounted to about 300 thousand tons, and, according to experts, it may grow to 400 thousand tons by 2035. The bulk of the demand from Kazakhstani consumers of polyethylene will be provided by Sileno supplies.

The launch of the plant will create about 8000 jobs under construction and 800 jobs after the start of production.

The raw material for the production of polyethylene is ethane, which will be isolated at the KMG Gas Separation Complex from gas from the fields of Tengizchevroil and delivered to Sileno via the main pipeline, which will also be built by KMG.

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 The project is being implemented by Sileno, whose shareholders are JSC NC KazMunayGas (40%), Sinopec Overseas Investment Holding (30%) and PJSC SIBUR Holding (30%).

The plant will meet Kazakhstan's domestic demand for polyethylene and plans to supply products to the CIS countries, Europe, China and Turkey.

Polyethylene is the basic raw material for the production of a number of products: pipes and valves for water, gas supply, sewerage, ventilation, heating, electrical and thermal insulation materials, housings for boats, all–terrain vehicles, parts of technical equipment, household appliances, medical equipment, household appliances, medical equipment, automotive components, toys, films of all kinds brands, containers (bottles, crates, cans, etc.) and other goods in demand both in everyday life and in industry.