Kazakhstan could export up to 10 million additional tonnes of oil to China - Energy Minister

ALMATY. Nov 3 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan could export up to 10 million additional tonnes of Kazakh oil to China, Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev said.

"There is currently a small volume of exports from Kazakhstan. This year, just over 1 million tonnes. We have additional export opportunities. That is, we have free capacity in the pipe and we are currently discussing the implementation of two joint projects with our Chinese partners. This is an expansion of two sections of the Kenkiyak - Atyrau and Kenkiyak - Kumkol main gas pipeline, which will allow oil to be sent from the western regions," Satkaliyev said at a briefing on Friday in reply to a question about new agreements on oil exports to China.

Kazakhstan has now reached an agreement on the development of preliminary projects with the Chinese side, and now the question is about guaranteeing the appropriate volumes of oil supplies, he said.

"We as a ministry guarantee that we can ensure an additional supply of Kazakh oil to China in a volume of up to 10 million tonnes," the Energy Minister said.