Kazakhstan, Astana / corr Trend K.Konirova / Arif Asgarov, the head of the Azerbaijani State Railway (ASR) stated in Astana on 17 May that the country is conducting preliminary talks with the TengizChevroil company on the conclusion of a contract on oil delivery to the world market from the Tengiz field of Kazakhstan via Azerbaijan.
At present oil from Tengiz field is delivered to the Novorossiysk port via the CPC pipeline. The Tengiz field is operated by TengizChevroil led by the US Chevron company.
ASR head said that the contract with TengizChevroil may be a five-year agreement that would allow Tengiz oil to be exported via Azerbaijan beginning from 2008.
In January to April 2007 the oil transportation via the CPC through the South Ozereyka-2 terminal in the Novorossiysk port carried 11.11mln tons, or 12.81% more than 2006. Oil pumping from Tengiz field rose 1.97% and comprised 31.1mln tons in 2006 as compared to 30.5mln tons in 2005.
At present the participation share of CPC member-countries is as follows: Russia 24%, Kazakhstan 19% and Oman 7%.
The private oil companies of the consortium are Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company (15%), LUKARCO B.V. (12.5%), Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited (7.5%), Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company (7.5%), Agip International (N.A.) N.V. (2%), BG Overseas Holding Limited (2%), Kazakhstan Pipeline Ventures LLC (1.75%) and Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC (1.75%).
On 28 April the Russian President signed a decree to transfer the Russian share in the CPC to the management of Transneft.