BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 10. Kazakhstan and
Turkmenistan could expand energy exports through new pipelines
across the Caspian Sea, connecting Kazakh oil and Turkmen gas to
international markets via Azerbaijan.


This was reflected in a publication issued by Wood Mackenzie
yesterday, titled “Unleashing the Caspian’s potential in oil, gas
and critical minerals.”


The article proposes building new Trans-Caspian pipelines to
transport Kazakh oil and Turkmen gas to existing export
infrastructure in Azerbaijan, opening access to Mediterranean and
European markets.


Kazakhstan currently produces 2.2 million barrels per day of
liquid hydrocarbons, with more than 1.5 million barrels per day
exported through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) system to a
terminal near Novorossiysk on Russia’s Black Sea coast. However,
exports have faced serious disruptions linked to attacks on
pipeline and port infrastructure amid the Russia-Ukraine war, the
article says.


The report also notes that Kazakhstan could increase its export
volumes by more than 200,000 barrels per day if the next phase of
the giant Kashagan oil field development proceeds.







Turkmenistan, meanwhile, exports around 34 billion cubic meters
of natural gas annually to China, while the development of
alternative export routes could open additional markets for its
vast gas reserves, including those of the Galkynysh field, which
Wood Mackenzie describes as the world’s second-largest.


“Filling in the missing links, cross-Caspian oil and gas
pipelines, would complete the ‘Middle Corridor,’ a new Silk Road
for molecules,” the article states.


According to Wood Mackenzie, the proposed infrastructure could
give Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan greater flexibility in choosing
export destinations and support further investment in their natural
resources. It could also strengthen energy supply security for
importing countries.


However, the authors caution that the concept faces significant
challenges, including the need to secure agreement among regional
governments, determine whether European buyers are willing to
commit to long-term gas contracts, and establish how large-scale
cross-border infrastructure would be financed.