"Kazakhstan has been and remains a reliable and responsible participant of a system ensuring international energy security; its role in the world oil and gas sector is constantly growing," Karim Masimov said.
Masimov said if global oil production over the last 15 years had risen about 30%, then Kazakhstan has seen growth in the same period of almost 150% from 26 million metric tons (191.1 million bbl) to about 67 million tons (492.5 million bbl) annually, and levels could reach 140 million tons (1 billion bbl) by 2015.
The prime minister said growth in production was influenced by the attractiveness of investment in the country's oil and gas and energy spheres, adding that foreign direct investment (FDI) in Kazakhstan's economy since 1993 was over $50 billion, around 50% of which is in the oil and gas and energy sectors.
"The Kazakh government still intends to build relations with foreign investors on the basis of the past effective and comprehensible formula of mutually beneficial cooperation," Masimov said.
"Its main principle is providing opportunities for the beneficial and unlimited participation in exploring potential fields, first of all oil and gas, in exchange for investment, new technology, cutting edge experience, and access to global markets," he said.
Masimov also said earlier today that the government has doubts Italian company Eni will be able to comply with the terms of an agreement to develop the country's largest oil field on the Caspian shelf.
"The slow work rate at Kashagan and the doubling of operational costs has serious socio-economic consequences for Kazakhstan," the premier said.
The government of Kazakhstan suspended Eni's license to develop the Kashagan oil deposit for a three month period in late August.
The Kazakh Ministry of Environmental Protection said operations by the Italian oil and gas giant Eni, involved in developing the country's largest Kashagan deposit, could have disastrous environmental consequences for the region.
In late July, the project operator suggested that the deadline for commercial production should be shifted from the second half of 2008 to the second half of 2010, with operating costs increasing from $57 billion to $136 billion.
Kashagan's recoverable reserves were estimated in 2000 at 13 billion barrels of oil.
