BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 1. Kazakhstan views the
Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline as one of the most promising
routes for oil exports and intends to utilize its spare capacity in
the future, the country’s Minister of Energy, Yerlan Akkenzhenov,
said, Trend
reports.
He made the remark on the plenary session titled “International
Cooperation for a Resilient and Diversified Energy Future,” held as
part of Baku Energy Week.
The minister noted that Kazakhstan is already utilizing the
Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) at nearly full capacity and needs
additional routes to transport oil to international markets.
According to him, last year Kazakhstan faced operational issues
with the CPC, which led to the need to limit oil production.
“The BTC already exists, and it would be irrational not to use
it,” the minister said.
He emphasized that Kazakhstan supplies about 80% of its oil
production to international markets, with the European market
remaining the primary export destination.
Akkenzhenov also noted growing interest in Kazakhstani oil from
countries outside traditional trading regions, including South
Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia.
According to him, the BTC pipeline currently has spare capacity
of 25 million tons, part of which Kazakhstan may utilize in the
near future, given plans for the further development of the oil
industry.
The minister added that the BTC not only connects the Caspian
and Mediterranean Seas but also enables the loading of very large
crude carriers (VLCCs) at the port of Ceyhan, which creates
additional economic benefits for consumers.
“The BTC pipeline is one of the best routes for Kazakhstan not
only today but also in the near future,” Akkenzhenov stated.
