Astana, Kazakhstan, April 8
By Daniyar Mukhtarov - Trend:
Kazakhstan will redirect oil, designed for export, via other routes in case of the imposition of sanctions against Russia in the oil and gas sector, Kazakh Oil and Gas Minister Uzakbai Karabalin said during a government hour in the Majilis (a lower chamber of the parliament) on April 7.
"The current situation in the world demonstrates to Kazakhstan the importance of diversifying transport routes," he said.
"As of 2013, over 60 percent of Kazakh oil exports were transported via the pipelines through the territory of Russia," he said.
"The transportation on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) was 28.7 million tons in 2013 or about 40 percent of a total export volume," he added. "Some 15.4 million tons or 21 percent were transported along the Atyrau-Samara route in 2013."
Karabalin added that some 6.3 million tons (or 9 percent) were transported through the Aktau port, 856,000 tons of condensate (1 percent) - the Orenburg gas processing plant last year. Nine million tons (12 percent of a total volume) were transported by railway.
He stressed that about 60 percent of the total volume of Kazakh oil designed for export is supplied to the EU countries, while less than one fifth of the total volume (or 17 percent) - to China.
If the EU imposes sanctions against Russia, Kazakhstan expects its oil supply to be restricted through the Russian territory.
"We assume that in particular, there may be restrictions through the Russian side," he added.
"And in this case, of course, our export supplies will be reduced. Today we are considering different options. There is a possible way to the Black Sea through the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia with the Batumi port."
He recalled that the Kazakh seaport Aktau on the Caspian Sea envisages oil transshipment of up to 12 million tons per year.
"If the sanctions against Iran are lifted, then we have a route for export," he said. Once we transported oil from Aktau to the Neka port."
"Kazakhstan will continue working to increase oil supply to China," he added.
"The ministry has developed a program," he added. "The program is being implemented to bring oil supply volumes to China to 20 million tons. Moreover, we know that our southern neighbors - Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan also need oil. We must consider this direction too."
He recalled that the Kazakhstan - China oil pipeline transportation capacity is 20 million tons per year at the Atasu-Alashankou section.
translated by NH
edited by CN