Astana, November 6. The Supreme Audit Chamber found 24.1 billion tenge of financial violations in Kazakhstan’s gas sector, and 59.4 million tenge was returned to the budget during the audit, according to the Supreme Audit Chamber’s data.
The bulk, 18.2 billion tenge, relates to inefficient planning and use of budget funds. Another 20.2 billion tenge was restored in accounting and through completed work, meaning it is not money received by the treasury, Ulysmedia.kz clarifies.
According to the chamber, Kazakhstan’s gas reserves are estimated at 3.8 trillion cubic metres, and in 2022–2025 the country produced 239.5 billion cubic metres. But commercial gas output is not keeping pace with growing domestic demand, a large part of the gas transport infrastructure runs beyond its regulatory life, and the market depends on a limited circle of subsoil users. Gas that does not meet standards speeds up wear of compressor equipment, and because of its quality the national operator has to give discounts on exports. The auditors also criticised planning: field development, processing plant construction and consumption growth are poorly coordinated, while financing of gasification of northern regions and IT-infrastructure readiness remain unresolved. Programme documents lack measures to stimulate exploration, develop underground gas storage, digitalise the sector and manage risks, the auditors note.
What it means: Most of the identified sum (18.2 of 24.1 billion tenge) is inefficient planning, and less than 0.3% of it has been returned to the budget. The audit’s main conclusion: there is plenty of gas in the ground, but consumers lack commercial gas.
Who benefits: Gas consumers and the budget, if the chamber’s findings lead to coordinated planning of plants, networks and gasification. After the audits the chamber sent all audited bodies special instructions to remove the shortcomings.
Background: The Supreme Audit Chamber is the body of external state audit; its audits show how budget money and state property are used. Commercial gas is gas cleaned and brought to standard for supply to consumers.
