Kazakhstan, Astana, Feb. 17/ Trend , K. Konirova/
The U.S. considers supporting hydrocarbon exports from Central Asia to Europe to be a long-term policy, U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan Richard Hoagland said.
"The U.S. government backs the so-called Kazakh Caspian transport system which calls for supplying crude oil from Eskene in Kurik via a pipeline and onwards to Baku via tankers," Hoagland said.
The U.S. welcomes the Kazakh government's move to consider building trans-Caspian pipelines in an effort to deliver oil and gas to world markets.
"We [U.S.] think the Trans-Caspian pipeline is technically and economically more advantageous than providing supplies via tankers. It is also politically well-grounded. We think all five Caspian littoral states must coordinate the delimitation of the Caspian seabed to build the pipeline. The project will be beneficial for all participants, including oil companies," the ambassador said.
Regardless, support for the pipeline will depend on the project's economic vitality, he said.
"Of course, political issues will persist, but the final decision will have a commercial basis," Hoagland said.
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