Kazakhstan Eyes 31% Boost to BTC Pipeline Exports in 2026
Kazakhstan's national oil company, KazMunayGas (KMG), is aiming to boost crude exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline by a significant margin in 2026. The goal is to reach approximately 1.7 million tonnes of oil, representing a 31% increase from current levels.
This expansion is underpinned by a five-year transit agreement with Azerbaijan's state energy company SOCAR, which locks in a minimum commitment of 1.5 million tonnes per year. The logistics chain involves transporting crude oil by tanker from Kazakhstan's Aktau port to Azerbaijan, where it feeds into the BTC pipeline.
The expansion is not without its challenges, however. Kazakh crude volumes through the BTC pipeline have historically fluctuated due to issues such as tanker availability and quality compatibility with the existing crude blend. Meeting the 1.5 million tonne floor guaranteed in the SOCAR agreement will be crucial for validating the infrastructure's capacity.