Kazakhstan’s energy sector has seen a strategic shift as a division of KazMunayGas, the nation’s state oil and gas champion, moved to secure tanker capacity for crude transport across the Black and Caspian Seas. Deputy Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov outlined the move in communications with Bloomberg, signaling a push to diversify export options and strengthen logistical resilience.
According to Akkenzhenov, KazMunayGas has ordered two vessels with a capacity of 8,000 tons each and is planning two additional tankers capable of carrying 80,000 tons of fuel. The plan comes as the government weighs the profitability of routes to international markets against alternative corridors, including shipments via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium. In 2022 CPC exports accounted for about 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil, though volumes showed a modest decline of around 1% versus 2021 as market dynamics shifted.
Kazakhstan has already moved significant volumes through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, exporting roughly 300 thousand tons of fuel oil since the start of the year along the Azerbaijan–Turkey route and the Caspian corridor. Domestic producers expect to tap more alternatives, aiming for roughly 1.5 million tons by year’s end as projects mature and regional capacity expands. CPC’s total exports last year reached about 40.5 million tons, underscoring its continued role in regional energy trade.
From January through March, the republic’s shipments via the Aktau–Baku sea route totaled 163.4 thousand tons, a figure six times higher than the same period the previous year. Reuters, citing Refinitiv data and industry sources, noted that although the volume was small in the broader context, shipments rose rapidly last year, aided by the opening of new logistics and strategic operations. The pace of shipments through alternative routes climbed in 2022, after a relatively modest 2021, reflecting a renewed focus on diversification and route optimization for Kazakh oil exports.
Analysts note that the CPC is projected to reach its maximum capacity as investment and infrastructure upgrades finalize in the near term, with forecasts indicating continued growth through 2024 and beyond. Kazakhstan remains attentive to refining capacity, pipeline expansion, and vessel availability, all of which influence the timing and scale of future export flows. The evolving mix of routes—CPC, BTC, and sea corridors—appears set to shape the country’s energy export strategy in the coming years, balancing profitability, security of supply, and geopolitical considerations, according to industry observers and official briefings.