ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 4. The transit volume of Russian gas to China through Kazakhstan's territory is expected to reach around 35 billion cubic meters per year, said Kazakh Ambassador to Russia Dauren Abayev, Trend reports.
"We aim to fully exploit our transit potential for maximum benefit. The roadmap has been finalized. We're talking about 35 billion cubic meters of gas annually heading to China. This will facilitate gasification in Kazakhstan's eastern and northeastern regions," he told Russian journalists.
"We're not just focusing on transit; we're also looking to procure gas for our population's needs. Currently, negotiations are underway regarding pricing and other details. Nevertheless, the roadmap is signed, and there's eagerness and understanding; only a few loose ends remain," the diplomat added, addressing plans to procure Russian gas.
Abayev stressed Kazakhstan's growth, both economically and in population. "I'm confident gas will be an essential resource," he concluded.
Meanwhile, KazTransOil has been transiting Russian oil through the territory of Kazakhstan to China since 2014 under the agreement between the government of Kazakhstan and the government of Russia on cooperation in the field of transporting Russian oil through the territory of Kazakhstan to China dated December 24, 2013.
In 2022, KazTransOil extended the agreement with Rosneft for the provision of services for the transportation of Russian oil through the territory of Kazakhstan to China until December 31, 2033.
The Atasu-Alashankou main oil pipeline is part of the Kazakhstan-China main oil pipeline system and belongs to Kazakhstan-China Pipeline LLP, which is a joint venture of KazTransOil JSC (50 percent) and China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Company Ltd. (50 percent). The design capacity of the main oil pipeline, Atasu-Alashankou is 20 million tons of oil per year.