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Azerbaijan check Kazakh drive to reduce oil transit by means of Russia

Azerbaijan said it would just be able to receive 2.2 million metric tons of Kazakhstan's oil into its pipeline each year as it has a high sulphur content, curbing Astana's efforts to decrease reliance on a Russian crude transit path.

Azerbaijan's state energy business SOCAR and Kazakhstan's. KazMunayGas signed a contract in March to slowly. increase the volume of Kazakh oil carried through the. Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline system to Turkey's Ceyhan. port to 2.2 million lots a year, from 1.5 million currently.

But Kazakhstan's energy minister, Almasadam Satkaliyev, this. week stated, without providing a time frame, that this could increase to. as much as 20 million metric lots a year as the nation. increases its output. It presently sends more than 80% of its. oil exports by means of Russia.

SOCAR, in an interview with Reuters, stated Kazakhstan's. exports by means of Azerbaijan might only rise to the formerly agreed. level due to continuous discussions concerning an issue with oil. quality.

Presently we can take no greater than 2.2 million lots from. Kazakhstan for the BTC, so as not to ruin the quality, Elshad. Nasirov, SOCAR's vice president stated. Buyers appreciate the low. sulphur content of Azeri Light oil at the BTC outlet.

Kazakhstan's primary CPC Blend grade is a light, sour crude. sold at a considerable discount rate to Azerbaijan's flagship BTC. grade that is an easier-to-refine medium, sweet grade.

Oil exports from Kazakhstan, the world's largest landlocked. nation, represent more than 1.4% of world supply, or roughly. 1.4 million barrels daily (bpd).

For 20 years, the nation has routed its oil through the CPC. pipeline - the most cost efficient existing route - to Russia's. Novorossiisk port, but circulations have actually frequently been disrupted by. malfunctioning equipment at the Black Sea terminal.

Kazakhstan pursues a multi-vector foreign policy that. balances its ties to Russia with other countries, such as China. and European nations.

There have likewise been speak about potentially transporting 5. million lots of Kazakh oil via the Baku-Supsa pipeline, which. runs from the Sangachal terminal near Baku to Georgia's Black. Sea port of Supsa.

Nevertheless, SOCAR's Nasirov said there were currently no. continuous negotiations with Kazakhstan on the matter.

Baku-Supsa flows were suspended in 2022 as BTC oil exports. are considered to be more logistically appealing for Azeri oil. exports.

(source: Reuters)