Projects & Case Studies
Case Study 1: LNG Supply to Remote Mining Site — Northern Kazakhstan
Field | Detail |
Sector | Mining / Extractive |
Location | Northern Kazakhstan |
Services | LNG Storage, Cryogenic Transport, Regular Delivery Schedule |
Challenge:
A large open-pit mining operation in northern Kazakhstan was running 24/7 on diesel-powered generators at significant cost, with frequent supply disruptions during spring and autumn road deterioration seasons.
Solution:
Astana-Trans-Oil designed and commissioned a satellite LNG storage facility at the mine — two cryogenic storage tanks providing 30+ days of autonomous fuel supply, connected to a vaporisation and power generation system replacing the diesel generators. Our cryogenic fleet established a fortnightly resupply schedule.
Result:
28% reduction in fuel costs vs diesel equivalent; zero supply disruptions over 18 months of operation; 15% reduction in site carbon footprint reported in the client’s ESG report.
Case Study 2: Crude Oil Transshipment — Rotterdam Terminal
Field | Detail |
Sector | Energy Trading |
Location | Rotterdam, Netherlands |
Services | Crude Oil Storage, VLCC Receipt, STS Transfer, Pipeline Despatch |
Challenge:
An international crude oil trading house needed short-term storage and transshipment capability for a series of VLCC cargoes (each approximately 2 million barrels) arriving from the Caspian region via Kazakhstan-origin Aframax vessels that had transferred to Suezmax at a transit point, requiring further transshipment to smaller vessels for refinery delivery.
Solution:
Our Rotterdam Europoort terminal provided VLCC-access berths, short-term crude oil storage in external floating-roof tanks, and coordinated pipeline despatch to three separate refinery customers — with independent surveying and full fiscal metering documentation at each transfer point.
Result:
Three consecutive VLCC cargoes handled over 45 days with zero quality discrepancies and full documentary compliance for the client’s letter of credit requirements. The trading house subsequently signed a 24-month storage capacity agreement.
Case Study 3: VLSFO Blending & Bunkering — Fujairah
Field | Detail |
Sector | Maritime Shipping / Bunker Supply |
Location | Fujairah, UAE |
Services | VLSFO Blending, Marine Fuel Storage, Barge Bunkering to Ocean-Going Vessels |
Challenge:
Following the IMO 2020 global sulphur cap (0.5% max sulphur in marine fuels), a regular shipping line customer required a reliable Fujairah supplier for IMO 2020-compliant VLSFO (Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil) at competitive pricing and with guaranteed ISO 8217 quality compliance.
Solution:
Astana-Trans-Oil developed a dedicated VLSFO blending programme at our Fujairah terminal — combining low-sulphur distillate components and vacuum gasoil in a metered blending system, producing consistent 0.49% sulphur VLSFO tested to ISO 8217 RMG 380 specification. Supply is by our SIRE-approved, MFM-equipped double-hull barge fleet.
Result:
The shipping line placed a 12-month supply agreement for 15,000+ MT per month of VLSFO at Fujairah. Zero off-specification deliveries in the first year; 100% on-time barge delivery performance.
Case Study 4: Residual Fuel Storage & Blending — Houston
Field | Detail |
Sector | Refining / Carbon Black Manufacturing |
Location | Houston Ship Channel, Texas, USA |
Services | Residual Fuel Oil Storage, Product Blending, Pipeline Receipt, Marine Export Loading |
Challenge:
A carbon black manufacturer required a reliable, high-volume residual fuel oil (HSFO) supply from the Houston terminal market at a specific viscosity specification, with storage managed to ensure continuous production feed without interruption.
Solution:
Astana-Trans-Oil provided dedicated heated storage capacity for the manufacturer’s HSFO requirement, receiving product by pipeline from refinery connections on the Ship Channel, managing viscosity-specification blending to meet the client’s exact processing requirement, and delivering by road tanker to the production facility on a just-in-time schedule.
Result:
The client achieved 99.7% production uptime over a 12-month period attributable to storage reliability. Zero out-of-specification fuel deliveries. The client renewed and expanded its storage agreement for a further two years.
Case Study 5: Rural LNG Gasification — Akmola Region, Kazakhstan
Field | Detail |
Sector | Municipal Utility / Rural Gasification |
Location | Akmola Region, Kazakhstan |
Services | LNG Satellite Station Design, Supply, Commissioning, Ongoing LNG Delivery |
Challenge:
A village of 3,000 residents in Akmola region was entirely dependent on coal for winter heating — costly, polluting, and operationally burdensome. Pipeline extension was not economically viable within any foreseeable planning horizon under Kazakhstan’s national gasification programme.
Solution:
Astana-Trans-Oil designed, supplied, and commissioned a small-scale LNG satellite station — a cryogenic storage tank with vaporisation equipment and pressure regulation connecting to the village’s existing low-pressure gas distribution grid. Astana-Trans-Oil’s cryogenic fleet provides regular monthly LNG resupply from our nearest processing terminal.
Result:
Village transitioned to natural gas heating ahead of the 2024 winter season. Household energy costs reduced by an estimated 32%. Air quality significantly improved with coal combustion eliminated. The project was cited by the Akmola regional authority as a model for the national rural gasification programme.