Yerlan Akkenzhenov: Kazakhstan plans to use part of BTC pipeline spare capacity

The Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan Pipeline (BTC) currently has a spare capacity of 25 million tons per year, and Kazakhstan may in the near future use part of this available capacity, Kazakhstan"s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said at the 31st Baku Energy Forum.

Report quotes him as saying that since the BTC pipeline is already operational, it would be unreasonable for Kazakhstan not to use this route.

"We are using the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) at nearly full capacity and see that additional routes are needed. At the end of last year, we faced issues with the CPC, which forced us to limit production. We need more alternative routes to transport Caspian oil to international markets," he said.

In his view, recent developments show that Kazakhstan is a very important player not only in Central Asia but also globally.

"We supply 80% of our oil to international markets, and the main destination is the European market," he noted.

He added that the BTC pipeline plays a key role in this regard.

"Because it currently has a spare capacity of 25 million tons, Kazakhstan will in the near future, especially with new development plans, be able to use part of this capacity. We see BTC not only as a pipeline connecting the Caspian Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, but also as an opportunity to load large vessels in the port of Ceyhan," he said.