Dear Delegates, Speakers and Distinguished Guests,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 2026 edition of the SPE Annual Caspian Technical Conference and Exhibition in Atyrau, Kazakhstan’s energy capital and a centre of technical expertise for the Caspian region.
At a time when the energy sector is undergoing significant change, this conference provides an important opportunity to reflect on the priorities shaping our industry. This year’s programme brings a stronger focus on areas such as subsurface understanding, improving recovery from mature fields, gas development, and the optimisation of infrastructure and midstream systems. These themes are closely aligned with the direction of Kazakhstan’s energy sector and the challenges we are working to address.
Atyrau Oil and Gas University is proud to support this progress. We continue to develop our academic and research programmes in line with industry needs, with increasing emphasis on digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and data-driven approaches. Our goal is to equip students and professionals with the skills required to contribute effectively to a changing and increasingly complex energy landscape.
Strong collaboration between academia, industry and government remains essential. Conferences such as this create valuable space for knowledge exchange, practical discussion, and the development of partnerships that extend beyond individual organisations and countries. These interactions are critical if we are to address shared challenges and make meaningful progress.
We also place great importance on supporting students and young professionals. Their involvement in initiatives connected to this conference helps to strengthen the link between education and industry, and ensures that future talent is well prepared for the opportunities and responsibilities ahead.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to KazMunayGas (KMG) as the Host Organisation, the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan for their support, and the SPE Executive and Programme Committees for their efforts in delivering this conference.
On behalf of Atyrau Oil and Gas University, I wish you a productive and rewarding conference. I look forward to seeing you in Atyrau in November.
Sincerely,
Gulzada Shakulikova
Chairman of the Board, Rector
Atyrau Oil and Gas University