Baku: Brotherly and allied states Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan are united by a common history, culture, and a strategic vision oriented towards the future. Cooperation between our countries demonstrates dynamic and sustainable development in all fields. One of the significant areas of cooperation between the two countries is economic cooperation, which is currently at a stage of dynamic development.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the issues of expanding economic relations were discussed yesterday during the 21st meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, held in Baku. One of the important aspects of economic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan is energy. During the meeting, questions regarding the discussions held in this field were addressed to Sanjar Jarkeshov, Deputy Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan.
Jarkeshov mentioned that plans were announced to increase the transit of Kazakh oil through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline to up to 7 million tons annually. However, he emphasized that these figures are general intentions without concrete commitments, as everything depends on the transit price set by the Azerbaijani side. The potential for increased transit is significant, and if conditions align, the capacity could reach up to 20 million tons with future modernization.
Regarding the quality indicators of the oil transported through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, Jarkeshov assured that there are no issues as there is an understanding regarding the quality of Kazakh and Azerbaijani oil. The main focus is on loading the pipeline to its maximum capacity, which is a crucial transit revenue for Azerbaijan. Negotiations are ongoing to determine mutually beneficial tariffs for transit.
For the current year, the transit volume of Kazakh oil through Azerbaijan is expected to remain at approximately 2.2 million tons, with no changes anticipated. Jarkeshov noted that global oil market prices are variable, and there might be an increase next year, with specific forecasts for the first quarter of 2026.
The possibility of using the Baku-Supsa pipeline for expanding Kazakh oil transit through Azerbaijan was also discussed. However, Jarkeshov indicated that the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan route is currently preferred due to issues related to weather conditions and the Bosporus associated with the Supsa route.
In terms of other energy cooperation directions, various initiatives are being considered, including ‘green corridor’ projects and peaceful atom initiatives. Geological exploration projects for oil and gas fields in Kazakhstan are also on the agenda, with SOCAR expressing interest in the Mangystau region. The Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan is ready to support all initiatives from Azerbaijan, especially in the energy field.