A solemn ceremony allowing the Caspian Pipeline system expansion to progress took place at the Atyrau refinery, Kazinform reported.
Kazakh Oil and Gas Minister Sauat Mynbayev, Energy Minister of Russia Sergei Shmatko, Transheft CEO Nikolai Tokarev, representatives of the CPC shareholders took the floor.
Ministers Mynabyev and Shmatko by means of the control panel of the welding assembly unit have started the welding process of the first joint of a new pipeline.
Upon completion of the pipeline expansion connecting Kazakhstan's Tengiz deposit with the Russia's Novorossiysk Port the CPC carrying capacity will rise to 67 million tons of oil per year, with 50 million tons capacity reserved for oil extracted in Kazakhstan, as part of the $4.5 billion expansion program scheduled to be concluded by 2014.