Kazakhstan oil exports

A planned oil pipeline could gain momentum given the uncertainty around routes through Russia.

Despite Kazakhstan’s efforts to reschedule the Kashagan maintenance, the drop in production conveniently forces Astana to meet commitments it has made to OPEC+ to reduce oil production. 

As the EU seeks to substitute Russian energy resources, Kazakhstan sees an opportunity.

This year’s disruptions have made the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) a risky option. 

Cracks in air-filled buoyancy tanks have reportedly led to the suspension of filling at two of three mooring points near the port of Novorossiysk.

Most of Kazakhstan’s oil exports go through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which has been targeted by Russian courts. 

Kazakhstan is again looking to the potential of a Trans-Caspian pipeline, but do plans to diversify oil export routes just hitch the Kazakh economy further to a doomed fossil fuel industry?

The timing of the decision has naturally raised some eyebrows, but of greater consequence is the lack of diversification of export routes for Kazakh oil.

Much of the oil produced in Kazakhstan transits through a pipeline across Russia, which now has shrunk output for a variety of reasons.

Another investor has left Kazakhstan, highlighting the worsening business climate. 

In Beijing’s pursuit of shifting its trade and energy dependencies from sea to land, Nur-Sultan is a necessary partner.

Kazakhstan's anti-monopoly agency fines the Atyrau refinery; Uzbekistan's Fergana refinery becomes loot for investors.