Tengizchevroil delivers first 20,000 tonnes of oil to Uzbekistan

ASTANA. Nov 15 (Interfax) - Tengizchevroil (TCO), which develops the Tengiz and Korolyov oil and gas fields in west Kazakhstan, has shipped a first 20,000 tonnes of crude oil to Uzbekistan, TCO Deputy General Director Konilkosh Suyesinov said.

"We have shipped 20,000 tonnes," Suyesinov told Interfax, when asked about the volume of the first trial shipment of oil to Uzbekistan by rail.

The refinery in Uzbekistan is capable of accepting 3-6 million tonnes per year. "If they can accept such volumes, not only TCO but also other operators will be able to supply oil to Uzbekistan," Suyesinov said.

However, Suyesinov could not provide information about the volume of crude oil TCO had shipped to Batumi, Georgia.

Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said last week that TCO had doubled the number of rail tank cars for oil exports and had started oil transportation by rail to Batumi and Uzbekistan.

Tengizchevroil develops the Tengiz and Korolyov oil and gas fields in the Atyrau Region. Tengizchevroil was formed as a joint venture between the Republic of Kazakhstan and Chevron Corporation in April 1993. The current partners are: Chevron with 50%, KazMunayGas with 20%, ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc with 25% and LukArco with 5%.