Kazakhstan plans to boost oil exports via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline in 2025

Kazakhstan and Russia are currently examining the technical feasibility of increasing Russian oil transit volumes to China, according to Energy Minister Erlan Akkenzhenov.

Speaking at a media briefing, Akkenzhenov revealed that the Russian company Transneft has formally requested an increase in oil transit to China, aiming to raise shipments to 2.5 million tons, Caliber.Az reports via Kazakh media.

He explained that both Transneft and KazTransOil are collaborating on the technical assessment, which is expected to conclude soon. 

Depending on the results, new pumping stations may be required, although preliminary data suggests that the use of specialised additives might suffice to handle the increased volume.

In addition to Russian oil transit, Kazakhstan is also planning to boost its oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline in 2025.

Akkenzhenov noted that while Kazakhstan exported approximately 1.4 million tons via the BTC route in 2024, the target for the following year is to raise this figure to around 1.7 million tons. He added that in the first half of the current year, about 800,000 tons had already been transported along this corridor, emphasising that efforts to increase capacity are ongoing.

The BTC pipeline itself is a crucial infrastructure asset that transports crude oil from the Caspian Sea region to the Mediterranean Sea. Originating in Baku, Azerbaijan, it passes through Tbilisi, Georgia, before terminating at the port of Ceyhan in southern Türkiye.

Stretching roughly 1,768 kilometres (approximately 1,100 miles), the BTC pipeline has been operational since 2006 and serves as a vital route for exporting Azerbaijani oil to international markets. Its strategic significance lies in providing an alternative to routes through Russia and Iran, thereby enhancing Europe's energy security and contributing to the diversification of global oil supply chains.

By Tamilla Hasanova