Kazakhstan, Astana / Trend corr. К.Аrinova / An expert in Kazakhstan's oil industry stated that the country's 100% participation in the Batumi Terminal will positively affect an increase of competitiveness in Kazakhstan.
Kazakhstan is close to finalizing the agreement on acquisition of 50% of the Batumi oil terminal, which will allow Kazakhstan to become the full owner of the terminal.
Uzakbay Karabalin, President of KazMunayGas JSC, and Yan Bondeh Nilsen, Chairman of Batumi oil terminal, stated that by the end of 2006, the agreement on creating the JSC between KazTransGas and Batumi oil terminal was to be completed. " Kazakhstan will be a serious heavyweight in deciding the disputable issue on transit tariffs between Georgia and Azerbaijan," the expert said.
Over recent years, the volume of transfer of oil and oil products in Batumi oil terminal increased by almost four times. The terminal is an essential part of the Trans Caucasus Oil Transporting Route. The largest oil and gas companies of the world, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and BP are among the list of clients.
Kazakhstan hopes to commence negotiations with Azerbaijan on efficiency tariff policy for export of Kazakhstan oil to Georgian Batumi Terminal in near the future.
This year in June, 860,400t of oil and oil products were transmitted via the Batumi oil terminal as compared to 867,500t in June 2006.The volume transmitted in May comprised 717,500t of oil.
Some 4.7mln t of oil was transmitted via Batumi oil terminal within the first quarter of 2007. In 2006 the volume of transmitting made up 9.7mln t.
Batumi oil terminal is able to transmit by 15mln tons of oil per year. The terminal services tankers with 30,000 or 90,000 dead-weight in four mooring lines, including buoys for Aframax vessels. Presently the reservoir capacity of the terminal is about 530,000t, which is enough for transporting current and forecasted volumes, transmitted via the route.