Baku: Kazakhstan plans to use the spare capacity of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, as stated by Kazakhstan's Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov during the ministerial-level plenary session held within the framework of the 31st Baku Energy Forum. Akkenzhenov noted that Kazakhstan is currently using the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline at nearly full capacity, necessitating additional routes to deliver oil to global markets.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the minister emphasized that the BTC pipeline already exists and it would not be logical not to use it. He described BTC as one of the key routes for Kazakhstan. Akkenzhenov mentioned that the BTC pipeline currently has approximately 25 million tons of spare transportation capacity, which Kazakhstan may utilize in the near future amid the development of new projects.

Akkenzhenov further explained that BTC is not only a pipeline connecting the Caspian Sea with the Mediterranean Sea but also facilitates the loading of large-capacity oil tankers at the Port of Ceyhan, providing additional economic advantages. He reiterated that BTC is one of the best routes for Kazakhstan not only today but also in the near future.