ASTANA. May 2. KAZINFORM /Aigul Tulekbayeva/ - “An issue on bitumen production development is very important for Kazakhstan”, Transport and Communications Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Akhmetov said today at a regular session of the Government. According to him, Kazakhstan requires to date 500 thousand tons of road bitumen. Following the 2006 results, 65 thousand tons of bitumen were produced and consumed in Kazakhstan. “KazMunaiGas National Company develops the technical-economic assessment of a road bitumen production plant. It will be prepared at the end of May", Mr. Akhmetov said. “We have held the negotiations with City-group company. KazMunaiGas NC jointly with City-group will start the construction of the plant for bitumen production this year and plant capacity will reach 250 thousand tons of high-quality road bitumen”, the Minister added.