Astana and Moscow in talks on boosting Russian oil deliveries to China via Kazakhstan

ASTANA. June 17 (Interfax) - Negotiations on increasing Russian oil shipments to China via Kazakhstan are still in progress, and there is no specific deadline for concluding them, Kazakh Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said.

"These negotiations are under way as of yet. The Russian side is requesting an additional 2.5 million tonnes. Talks on this issue are being held now. It's 10 million tonnes plus 2.5 million tonnes. This negotiation process has no specific deadline for being concluded. Therefore, as soon as the sides reach mutual consent, we will sign it," Akkenzhenov told journalists on Tuesday.

The talks will take "some time", as the issue requires amendments to the intergovernmental agreement and their subsequent ratification by parliament, he said.