How IMBC is shaping a new industrial ecosystem in Kazakhstan

International center for development of Oil and Gas machine building creates new business opportunities

 

The journalist from Forbes.kz spoke with Dastan Abishev, General Director of International Center for Development of Oil and Gas Machine Building (IMBC), about the results of the work carried out in 2025 and future prospects.

 

International Center for Development of Oil and Gas Machine Building (IMBC) was established as a tool for developing domestic industry and systematically integrating Kazakhstani manufacturers into the supply chains of the country's largest oil and gas projects. The organization was founded by the initiative of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan together with the largest field operators — Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan, whose shareholders include international companies such as Chevron, ENI, Shell, and other multinational corporations.

 

 

According to IMBC General Director Dastan Abishev, the uniqueness of the center lies in the fact that for the first time, Kazakhstani manufacturers and investors gained access to consolidated information about the projected needs of major operators for oil and gas equipment, including technical requirements. The key task of the center is to facilitate the development of domestic manufacturers’ potential, establish sustainable interaction between operators and the machine-building industry, create new production facilities, jobs, and domestic added value.

 

In 2025, with the support of JSC NC KazMunayGas, operators of promising projects — Kalamkas-Khazar Operating, Silleno, and KMG PetroChem — joined IMBC. This allowed the center to expand its analytical coverage and gain deeper insights into the structure of demand for products within the country’s key oil, gas, and petrochemical projects. According to Dastan Abishev, access to forecasted demand is a fundamental element for the development of any manufacturing business.

 

 

“Any production relies on reliable and timely market information. Understanding expected demand volumes and technical requirements allows planning investments, production capacities, and supply chains in advance,” he explains.

 

Overall, oil and gas machine building has a high multiplicative effect. Its development stimulates growth in related industries: metallurgy, chemical industry, logistics, engineering, and service sectors, creating a sustainable industrial ecosystem.

 

During its operation, IMBC has achieved tangible practical results. For the first time, the market received consolidated data on over 110,000 analyzed product items, covering more than 80% of the direct purchases of three operators. More than 100 types of products have high projected demand. Simultaneously, IMBC specialists visited and studied more than 250 production sites across Kazakhstan. Individual development plans were prepared for 18 enterprises, considering operator requirements.

 

As a result, for IMBC-tracked products in recent years, operators issued over 190 contracts and placed orders totaling more than $700 million with local manufacturers.

 

All this became possible thanks to the systematic and coordinated work of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the authorized body of LLP PSA, three major operators, manufacturers, and IMBC.

 

“These are not just numbers — these are new jobs, increased confidence in Kazakhstani factories, and recognition of their technological potential at the level of major international projects,” notes Dastan Abishev.

 

 

IMBC’s work is based on practical interaction with business. Based on the analysis of forecasted demand and market opportunities, center specialists identify synergies between operators’ needs and domestic manufacturers’ potential. Experts visit enterprises, study production processes, assess compliance with technical requirements, identify gaps, and develop recommendations for their elimination. After implementing the recommendations, the enterprise gains the opportunity to be recommended to operators as compliant with the requirements.

 

Successful cases include Kazenergokabel JSC, which was the first Kazakhstani cable manufacturer to receive an IECEE international certificate for certain products, opening access to contracts with oil and gas operators. Similarly, KazElectroMash LLP obtained an IECEE certificate for a batch of power cables. Obtaining international certifications significantly expands the potential of Kazakhstani manufacturers and opens opportunities for export markets.

 

A separate direction of IMBC’s work is technology transfer and attract investment. Together with investors, the center develops localization cases and roadmaps, which are then submitted to operators. This allows defining key project parameters and implementation stages. For example, cooperation with Chemelex — a world leader in electrical heating and sensor solutions. The company plans to localize the production of self-regulating heating cables in Kazakhstan with serial production launch in 2026–2027. The corresponding cooperation agreement was signed during the Central Asia – USA (C5+1) summit during the official visit of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to the USA. Additionally, localization projects with major companies from the USA, Italy, and Germany have been implemented, whose technologies are now applied in key oil and gas projects in Kazakhstan.

 

 

As is known, international standards requirements — ASME, API, IEC, and others — were a significant barrier for domestic manufacturers for a long time. The high cost of certification limited participation in Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak operator procurement. As a result of the joint work of IMBC and the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the certification cost reimbursement threshold was increased from 3,000 to 15,000 MCI, significantly expanding opportunities for domestic enterprises.

 

The separate event was the annual Oil and Gas Machine Building Forum and Operators’ Open Day, held on October 10 in Aktau with the support of the Ministry of Energy, Majilis deputies, NC KazMunayGas JSC, PSA LLP, and operators. Over 550 participants attended, including representatives of more than 200 Kazakhstani and foreign companies. For the first time, over 100 technical specialists from major oil, gas, and petrochemical operators gathered in one venue, familiarizing manufacturers with electronic catalogs of purchased products and answering their questions.

 

Following the Forum, 33 contracts for the supply of goods, works, and services totaling over $440 million, as well as 19 memorandums of cooperation, were signed.

 

 

“A separate direction of IMBC’s work is industry digitalization. Currently, an IMBC online platform is being developed, which will become a single digital window for interaction between operators and verified manufacturers. The platform will include a list of manufacturers who have passed preliminary evaluation, as well as information about their products and technical capabilities,” concluded Dastan Abishev.