Kazakhstan’s Tengiz growth tests OPEC+ limits
The oilfield expansion provides a fresh influx of revenue but will strain its cooperation with OPEC+ and fails to mask deeper issues with the economy and investors
Chevron and its partners completed a $48.5b expansion at Kazakhstan’s largest oilfield, Tengiz, in late January—three years later than planned and nearly a third over budget. With the project already driving national oil and gas condensate above 2m b/d in January, and crude itself set to test OPEC+ quota limits once again, Kazakhstan must decide whether it will return to flouting its agreement to an even greater degree or renegotiate its deal. The most likely course is for the Central Asian producer to remain part of the group to support diplomatic ties with its leading members and find a compromise. Meanwhile, the influx of revenue from the expansion offers relief for the government’s strai
Also in this section
6 February 2026
The long close relationship between key supplier Qatar and pivotal buyer Japan becomes even deeper following new landmark deal
6 February 2026
Partnerships across the LNG value chain have evolved over time, growing in both complexity and importance, according to panellists at LNG2026
6 February 2026
Nigeria's mega-refinery is still trying to solve many challenges, all while its owner talks up expansion
5 February 2026
While broadly supportive of EU efforts to tackle methane emissions, representatives of the gas industry warn it could deter supply contracting if timelines and compliance requirements are not made more pragmatic






