Kazakhstan to expand oil exports via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline
Kazakhstan may significantly increase its crude oil exports through the Turkish port of Ceyhan, Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev announced on Monday.
This move would reduce the reliance on Russia, which currently accounts for over 80% of Kazakhstan's export flows, Reuters reports.
Exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline could increase to 20 million metric tons annually, up from the current 1.5 million metric tons, if the country ramps up its production, Satkaliyev stated. However, he did not provide a specific timeline.
"Both Kazakhstan and its partners in Azerbaijan have expressed interest in developing and gradually increasing oil delivery volumes from Kazakhstan," Satkaliyev said in Parliament.
Kazakhstan uses a fleet of tankers to ship crude oil across the Caspian Sea for export through the BTC pipeline, which crosses Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey.
This year, Kazakhstan is expected to export 68.8 million metric tons of oil, with 55.4 million tons transported via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) to Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiisk. Additionally, 8.6 million tons will be delivered through the Atyrau-Samara pipeline, also via Russia; 3.6 million tons via the Caspian Sea; and 1.1 million tons through a pipeline to China.
Kazakhstan is projected to produce 88.4 million metric tons of oil this year, a decrease from the original plan of over 90 million tons. This reduction reflects maintenance work at major oil fields and Kazakhstan’s commitment to the OPEC+ production cut agreement.
Kazakhstan’s oil exports constitute over 1% of the global supply. From 2026, the country is expected to produce more than 100 million metric tons of oil annually.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
