Kazakhstan national operator KazMunayGas plans to increase oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline by 31 percent in 2026 to bypass Russia. The company aims to transport 1.7 million tonnes of crude along the route, up from 1.3 million tonnes shipped in 2025.
The planned expansion was disclosed in a KazMunayGas presentation at a public council meeting of Samruk-Kazyna JSC, according to Russian news agency Interfax. KazMunayGas represents state interests across exploration, production, refining, and transportation in the oil and gas sector.
The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline spans about 1,700 kilometers, linking the Caspian region to the Turkish Mediterranean port of Ceyhan. It has a capacity of up to 50 million tonnes of oil annually and gives Kazakhstan strategic access to global markets.
Black Sea Tanker Attacks and Shutdowns
The decision follows operational halts on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium route in July after Ukrainian attacks targeted tankers in the Black Sea. The pipeline normally carries more than 80 percent of Kazakh crude exports.
The temporary closure forced Kazakhstan to cut its daily oil output by more than half. The country accounts for about two percent of global oil production, with the consortium handling crude from major fields operated by international firms including Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell.
Talks with the US Administration
At least one of those international companies complained to the administration of Donald Trump regarding the situation in the Black Sea. Following those negotiations, Ukraine was reportedly asked not to attack vessels that do not belong to Russia.
In a separate development at the end of July, Bloomberg reported that Kazakhstan was conducting talks to refine Russian crude oil at its domestic refineries.
