SOCAR, the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan, began the transit of Kazakh oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline. This development was reported by RIA Novosti through its press service, highlighting new moves in regional energy logistics.
The arrangement between SOCAR and KazMunayGas establishes the passage of up to 1.5 million tons of oil per year via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan route. Projections for late 2023 indicated the Caspian Sea would see approximately 12 to 14 tanker voyages each month as part of this agreement. This tempo reflects increased integration of Kazakh energy supplies into regional infrastructure and the broader European market.
SOCAR confirmed that the first Kazakh oil batch from the Tengiz field reached Azerbaijan on March 23. The delivery of the subsequent Kazakh oil batch was scheduled for March 27, signaling the practical rollout of the long-term transit plan.
The Azerbaijani Caspian Shipping Company reported this week that Kazakhstan had completed its first test shipment of oil to Azerbaijan via the Caspian Sea, marking an important milestone in bilateral energy cooperation and regional route optimization.
Meanwhile, energy market commentators noted that significant quantities of Russian oil continued to flow into the European Union market through various intermediaries, underscoring the ongoing dynamics of crude supply routes in the region. This observation, attributed to coverage by the Politico publication, situates the Kazakh transit within a broader context of shifting energy flows and regulatory considerations in Europe.