BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 28. The transit of Turkmen oil via Azerbaijan from January through February 2022 increased, Trend reports citing the Argus Media independent pricing agency.
According to the agency, this figure amounted to 346,000 tons, up by 162,000 tons, or 53.17 percent compared to the first two months of last year (184,000 tons).
The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) plans to transport nearly 1.3 million tons of oil in the direction of Makhachkala (Russia) this year compared to one million tons in 2021.
"If necessary, the company can redirect part of the volumes to Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC), as well as increase the loading of the Baku Refinery, which processed 6.7 million tons of oil last year," the agency said.
Besides, according to the agency, the transit of Turkmen oil through Makhachkala was suspended in March. Tanker shipments of oil are redirected to Azerbaijani terminals due to sanctions imposed on Russia.
"The March shipment program in the direction of Makhachkala has been canceled, and Turkmen ships began delivering the volumes to Azerbaijan. These volumes are expected to be pumped via the BTC," added the agency.
From January through February this year, the total supply of Turkmen oil and condensate through Makhachkala decreased to 150,000 tons (compared to 328,000 tons in the same period of 2021).
Batches of Turkmen oil from the resources of Dragon Oil (UAE), Eni Turkmenistan and Mitro (Panama) companies in the direction of Makhachkala are shipped by Vitol company. From Makhachkala, oil is pumped through the Transneft system to Novorossiysk.