Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan to Ink Strategic Energy Deals, Including Green Cable Project

Kazakhstan’s Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov has announced that Astana and Baku are set to sign strategic agreements in the energy sector, covering the transit of Kazakh oil through Azerbaijani territory and the development of a "green cable" project - a trilateral initiative involving Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

Akkenzhenov made these remarks during a press briefing, The Caspian Post reports via local media.

He noted that the agreements would be signed on October 21 as part of the state visit of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to Kazakhstan.

The minister explained that the documents pertain to increasing the volume of Kazakh oil transiting through Azerbaijan via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

“Azerbaijan’s existing infrastructure allows for an increase in the volume of Kazakh oil exports. This, however, is subject to commercial negotiations between the relevant entities regarding tariffs,” the minister explained. “If favorable economic conditions are offered - comparable to the rates on other existing routes, such as Atyrau-Samara - and especially if they are better than the Caspian Pipeline Consortium [CPC] rate, that would be even more advantageous.”

He added that the use of the Baku-Supsa pipeline may also be considered in the future, should Kazakhstan’s oil production volumes rise.