Kazakhstan is the second largest oil and natural gas producer in the former Soviet space. As most papers noticed, the country ensured for itself double refining capacity and a fast access to the European market, all due to the acquisition of 75% of the Rompetrol Group stock.

The state-owned company KazMunaiGaz (KMG) controls one third of the oil production of the country. Kazakhstan has as neighbors China, Russia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and the Caspian Sea.

Analysts say that the Rompetrol deal was "not surprising", given the required symbiosis between a strong production and research player and a refining and distribution company.

Kazakhstan has seen an economic boom during the past few years and currently has some 90 oil companies involved in the oil exploitation activities of the country. USA, UK and Japan are the most important investors in Kazakhstan.

According to the “Oil &Gas of Kazakhstan” magazine, some 14.5 billion dollars were invested in Kazakhstan by foreign companies in 2006. “Asia & Pacific Review World of Information” sees a much larger figure - some 80 billion dollars invested during the past ten years, out of which 80% were only investments in oil exploitation.

Kazakhstan hosts US-based companies (Chevron, Exxon), European (ENI-Italy, BG - UK), Russian (Lukoil, Gazprom) and Chinese oil extraction companies.