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Kazakhstan has clashed with oil majors over costs

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In 2023 launched claims against groups developing

oilfields

(Adds quote from president in paragraph 5, background on

projects in paragraphs 6-11)

By Mariya Gordeyeva

ALMATY, Jan 28 (Reuters) - Kazakh President

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Tuesday ordered the government to step

up talks with international oil majors about an extension of

existing production sharing agreements (PSA) on "better terms".

The central Asian country is one of the world's top 10 oil

producers and has had a chequered history in dealing with

international oil companies, bringing multi-billion-dollar

claims against them.

Foreign companies say the government is simply seeking to

increase its shares in key oil and gas projects in what amounts

to "resource nationalism".

Kazakhstan's authorities have rejected such criticism saying

its aim was to rein in costs inflated by Western majors.

"Large investments require a long-term planning horizon.

Therefore, the government will have to intensify negotiations

regarding the extension of PSA contracts on the updated terms,

favourable to the country," Tokayev said.

Kazakhstan derives most of its oil production from its

Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan oilfields, which were

developed with the help of international oil majors.

In 2023 it launched claims against groups developing the

Kashagan and Karachaganak oilfields worth more than $13 billion

and $3.5 billion, respectively, over disputed costs.

The offshore Kashagan field, one of the world's biggest

discoveries in recent decades, is being developed by Eni

, Shell, TotalEnergies, ExxonMobil ( XOM )

, KazMunayGaz, Inpex ( IPXHF ) and CNPC

.

The consortium, called the North Caspian Operating Company

(NCOC), has invested some $50 billion in the project.

Eni, Shell and KazMunayGaz are also partners in

Karachaganak, alongside Chevron ( CVX ) and Russia's Lukoil

, with investments of more than $27 billion.

Tengizchevroil, Kazakhstan's largest oil producing

enterprise, involves Chevron ( CVX ), ExxonMobil ( XOM ), Lukoil and

KazMunayGaz.