Kazakhstan's oil exports via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) remain on track despite recent damage to a key Russian pumping station, Reuters reported.
The CPC, Kazakhstan’s primary oil export route, was affected after Ukraine launched a drone strike on Russia’s Kropotkinskaya pumping station in the southern Krasnodar region on February 17. However, Satkaliyev assured that there were no immediate restrictions on oil intake.
"So far, there is no risk of a decrease in tanker loading volumes," he stated, emphasizing that oil storage capacities are sufficient to ensure stable operations.
Despite concerns over export capacity, Kazakhstan's oil and gas condensate production surged to a record 2.12mn barrels per day (bpd) on February 19, according to official data. Russia recently reported that CPC capacity was reduced by 30-40% following the Ukrainian drone attack, though it remains unclear how Kazakhstan has managed to sustain high output levels.
Kazakhstan relies on the CPC for over 80% of its oil exports. The recent production boost is attributed to increased output from the Tengiz oilfield, operated by Tengizchevroil, a consortium led by Chevron Corp. The field is undergoing a $48bn expansion, aimed at boosting production capacity.
In response to geopolitical risks, Kazakhstan is exploring alternative export routes. In January, Kazakhstan sent its first shipment of oil from the Kashagan field to the port of Baku for further transportation through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. Minister Satkaliyev noted that exports through the BTC pipeline could rise from the current 1.5mn metric tons per year to 20mn metric tons as production expands.
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