On March 13 in Atyrau, the III Annual Conference “Petrologistics, Rental & Transportation-2026” was held, organized by the PetroCouncil. Participants discussed issues related to oil and gas transportation, the development of logistics chains, alternative supply routes, the creation of major logistics hubs, and the prospects for expanding local content.
As part of the program, participants visited LLP “Atyrau Wagon Manufacturing Plant” (AVMP) — one of the key enterprises of the railway cluster of Western Kazakhstan. Guests toured the production facilities and learned about the manufacturing process of freight rolling stock.
They were shown the production of gondola railcars, container flatcars, and railway tank cars, and were introduced to modern engineering solutions and the development of the regional railway cluster. As of January 2026, the plant had produced more than 400 gondola railcars manufactured in Atyrau, and serial production of railway tank cars will begin this year.
Representatives of the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, oil and gas operators, as well as major domestic and international logistics and transportation companies, took part in the conference.
Acting Director of the Department of Oil Refining and Transportation of the Ministry of Energy, Talgat Makuov, presented an overview of Kazakhstan’s oil transportation routes. According to the results of 2025, oil exports amounted to 78.7 million tons, of which 64.8 million tons were transported via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) system. Another 9.2 million tons were transported through the Atyrau–Samara pipeline, 1.1 million tons through the Atasu–Alashankou pipeline to China, about 3.5 million tons across the Caspian Sea, and 4.5 million tons by rail.
Special attention was paid to the development of the Trans-Caspian route. In 2025, 1.26 million tons of oil were shipped through this corridor, with plans to increase the volume to 1.7 million tons in 2026.
According to Maksat Mutashev, Head of the Intersectoral Coordination Department of the Committee for Railway and Water Transport of the Ministry of Transport, freight rail transportation reached 320 million tons in 2025, while passenger transportation totaled 19.4 million people, and cargo handling through seaports reached 9.5 million tons.
As part of infrastructure modernization, the Dostyk–Moyynty railway line (836 km) and the Almaty bypass line (75 km) are under construction, while 1,575 km of railways have been repaired. The country also purchased 149 locomotives, 175 passenger cars, and 2,323 freight wagons.
Key water transport projects include dredging the port area of Port of Aktau, modernization of the Port of Aktau and Port of Kuryk, and construction of the Sarja container terminal with a capacity of 5 million tons. Plans also include launching a ferry route between Kuryk and Alat with an annual capacity of up to 10,500 vehicles.
According to forecasts by the Ministry of Transport, by 2026 rail freight transportation may increase to 344 million tons, transit cargo to 55 million tons, and cargo throughput at seaports to 11.4 million tons.
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is becoming one of the key directions of international logistics and is of strategic interest to the United States and the European Union. This was stated at the conference by Jeff Ehrlich, Executive Director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Kazakhstan. According to him, the development of the corridor is linked not only to cargo transportation but also to the export of critical minerals, development of digital infrastructure, and strengthening regional integration. Despite its high potential, the Chamber does not yet observe significant interest from U.S. businesses, noting that stronger support from the governments of Kazakhstan and the United States is needed.
CEO of KTK Service Tulegen Daulenbayev spoke about the capabilities of project and oversized cargo logistics for large industrial and oil and gas projects. For more than 20 years, the company has been implementing comprehensive logistics solutions, including the transportation of heavy and oversized cargo, multimodal transport, and management of international logistics projects. Among the projects completed were deliveries of transformers weighing up to 280 tons and equipment for refineries, gas pipelines, power and industrial facilities.
“Today, project logistics requires a comprehensive approach — from engineering route planning and equipment selection to customs clearance and coordination of international deliveries. This approach allows us to provide a full turnkey logistics cycle,” noted Tulegen Daulenbayev.
The conference also focused on industry data analytics and digital monitoring tools for the oil and petroleum products market. Chairman of the PetroMining Association of Kazakhstan Sayat Boranbekov presented the Echelon Alpha platform, developed by Rakhman Asambaev. The platform integrates data from more than 50 government sources, enabling analysis of market structure, company dynamics, tax burden, and key industry indicators.
A separate block was dedicated to digitalization of transport services and corporate fleet management. The company Telemanus, operating in the transport services market since 1996, provides transportation for large industrial and oil and gas projects, including cooperation with Karachaganak Petroleum Operating at the Karachaganak Field.
According to Deputy Director for Business Development and Digitalization at Telemanus, Birzhan Zhangaliev, transport safety and transparent fleet management are especially critical for industrial and oil and gas sectors.
“Digital solutions allow real-time monitoring of vehicles, improve efficiency of fleet utilization, and reduce operational risks.”
He emphasized that flexibility and the ability to quickly adapt to market changes are key competitive advantages. Companies capable of restructuring processes quickly, implementing digital tools, and offering efficient solutions become more reliable partners.
He also noted the importance of developing employees’ knowledge and professional expertise, as well as fostering open and constructive internal communication. Investments in people and knowledge exchange form the basis of sustainable growth for any organization.
The conference included two panel sessions dedicated to alternative oil and gas transportation routes, maritime logistics, and inventory management. Participants discussed the development of export infrastructure, the role of ports in the Caspian–Black Sea region, the sustainability of maritime logistics amid declining levels of the Caspian Sea, and the need for dredging operations.
The discussion also addressed the increasing complexity of logistics chains and longer delivery times for equipment and materials required for large industrial projects.
Special attention was given to railway infrastructure development and new transportation solutions for the oil, gas, and chemical industries.
According to Sergey Gorsky, member of the board of directors of the TEXOL Group:
“By creating new engineering solutions and controlling the entire production cycle, we are developing transport products that increase logistics efficiency.”
He also highlighted the company’s strategy of building a full industrial cycle — from railcar design and manufacturing to operation and service maintenance.
The company Blue Bell Shipping LLC, which has over 39 years of experience in project logistics in the oil and gas sector, presented a case study of delivering 3,200 tons of oversized pipes to Kazakhstan, for which 52 charter flights were carried out within three months.
According to the company’s CEO in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Natalia Andrievskaya:
“In large energy projects, logistics is a strategic element of project management, ensuring timely delivery of materials, supply chain stability, and prevention of unexpected costs or delays.”
Commercial Manager of Samal Rakhym Zhanibek Zharylgasov spoke about the digitalization of the transport business and the transition to fully automated fleet and document management. According to him, the implementation of monitoring systems, analytics, and electronic document management helps reduce operating costs and significantly increase transparency and efficiency in transport operations.
“Today, digitalization of transport is no longer an advantage but a necessity for competitiveness,” he said.
The conference was held with the support of industry partners.
Platinum partner: KTK Service
Gold partners: Telemanus and TEXOL Group
Silver partners: Sarens, Echelon Alpha, Blue Bell Shipping LLC, and Samal Rakhym
Bronze partners: KZF, BI Property, and Infinity Group
Technical partners included Ayacom and the PR agency “Business with Meaning.”