Kazakhstan, Astana, Jan.26 / Trend D. Mukhtarov /
Work on the Kazakhstan Caspian Transportation System (KCTS) will be conducted in parallel with the growth of oil production in Kazakhstan, managing director of JSC Samruk-Kazyna National Welfare Fund, Malik Salimgereev said.
"By 2020, Kazakhstan plans to produce 100 million tons of oil. We intend to increase oil transportation through expansion of existing pipelines," Salimgereev said.
He said while the KCTS project is not included in the plans, today there is enough existing pipeline capacity.
"If the CPC expansion project is completed by 2016, we will transport 52.5 million tons out of 67 million tons, when the pipeline capacity is extended. This means we can ensure the pumping of Tengiz and Kashagan oil via this pipeline. If there isn't time, then we plan to transport from 10 to 12 million tons through the Caspian Sea to the port of Aktau to Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan. Therefore we will not remove the KCTS construction from the agenda, and will work in this direction in parallel with an increase in oil production," Salimgereev said.