Kazakhstan is evaluating the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) and Baku-Supsa pipelines, as well as transit through Azerbaijan via the Caspian Sea, as viable alternative routes for oil exports. This strategic shift comes amid ongoing instability in the operations of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which has prompted Astana to diversify its logistics network.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the country's Ministry of Energy confirmed these considerations to the Interfax-Kazakhstan agency.
Kazakhstan's national oil and gas company, KazMunayGas, plans to increase oil exports via the BTC pipeline to 1.7 million tons in 2026, representing a 31% increase compared to 2025 projections. During the first half of 2026, approximately 704,000 tons of Kazakh oil were transported via the Aktau port toward the BTC route.
The BTC pipeline, a critical piece of energy infrastructure, spans 1,768 kilometers and possesses an annual throughput capacity exceeding 50 million tons of crude oil. By leveraging Azerbaijan's established energy corridors, Kazakhstan aims to ensure more reliable access to international markets, reducing its dependency on single-route export systems.
