Sanctions against Russia can negatively affect Kazakh oil export – Minister

Astana. April 7. Silkroadnews –Economic sanctions against Russia can negatively affect Kazakhstan oil and gasexport, as the Minister of Oil and Gas, Uzakbay Karabalin, thinks.
“We have no idea what the sanctions could be like… If export opportunities will be somehow restricted, it would mainly happen via Russia, we think… Therefore, our exports would obviously decline”, said Mister Karabalin at the Parliament.
As he said, export alternatives are currently being considered.
“It is acceleration… of Caspian route via Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Port of Batumi on the Black Sea coast. Our Port of Aktau provides for 12 mln tonnes of oil export. If sanctions against Iran are to be lifted, we will have a well-tried export route”, the Minister explained.
Moreover, China remains an important export partner.
“Our Atasu-Alashankou pipeline to China has 20 mln tonnes capacity at the moment. We have a program to accelerate this route, so that we export 20  million tonnes to China, at full capacity”, the Minister stated.
The Minister also talked about the southbound route, where Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan need oil.