KazMunayGas, KPO discuss boosting Karachaganak oil supply to Germany and alternative routesMagzum Mirzagaliev, Chairman of the Board of JSC National Company KazMunayGas (KMG), and Giancarlo Ruiu, General Director of Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V. (KPO), discussed ongoing projects, with a focus on plans to increase oil exports to Germany."The discussion addressed the export of Karachaganak oil in response to the growing demand for Kazakh hydrocarbons in Western Europe. Last year, approximately 1 million tonnes of oil from Karachaganak were transported to Germany for the first time using KazTransOil and Transneft's transport systems. The participants explored future possibilities for delivering more volumes to Germany and considered alternative routes,” according to a statement from KMG.The parties also discussed the progress of the gas processing plant construction project at the Karachaganak field, designed to handle 4.5 billion cubic meters of raw gas annually. Currently, 9 billion cubic meters of Karachaganak gas undergo processing at Russia's Orenburg Gas Processing Plant (OGPP) before being returned to Kazakhstan for domestic market sales. The Karachaganak operator is considering increasing gas production from 9 to 13 billion cubic meters annually without significantly affecting liquid hydrocarbon production.  To accommodate this, a field-based gas processing plant is planned, scheduled for launch between 2028-2030.The meeting also focused on enhancing Kazakhstani content, technology transfer, and increasing the presence of domestic specialists in management and key positions at KPO.As part of diversifying oil export routes, Kazakhstan initiated oil supplies to Germany through the Druzhba oil pipeline, with the initial shipment taking place in February 2023.By the end of 2023, Kazakhstan supplied 993,000 tonnes of oil to Germany, within Transneft's 1.2-million tonne pumping quota. KazTransOil aims to send 100,000 tonnes of oil to Germany in January 2024. Karachaganak Petroleum Operating plans to ship up to 1.2 million tonnes of Kazakh oil to Germany through Transneft's pipeline in 2024. Kazakhstan's Energy Minister, Almasadam Satkalieyv, anticipates increasing oil transportation to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline to 2 million tonnes annually.The Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field ranks among the world's largest, boasting reserves estimated at 1.2 billion tonnes of oil and 1.35 trillion cubic meters of gas. Operated by Karachaganak Petroleum Operating B.V., the consortium includes Shell with a 29.25% stake through its affiliate BG Karachaganak Ltd, Eni (29.25%), Chevron (18%), Lukoil (13.5%), and KazMunayGas (10%). Since 1997, Karachaganak Petroleum Operating has been developing the field under a 40-year production sharing agreement. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX