Kazakhstan could become a major oil producer, possibly one of the world’s top five, in the next decade. It is already producing 1.54 million barrels per day from its three giant fields at Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan. The output is expected to at least double by 2019.
Kazakhstan has a long land border with China and a longer one with Russia.
The Kazakhstan-China oil pipeline spans 1,384 miles (2,227 kilometers), running from Atyrau port in northwestern Kazakhstan to Alashankou in China’s northwest Xinjiang region, and has a capacity of 200,000 barrels per day of crude. The pipeline is a joint venture between CNPC and KMG.
However, natural gas development has lagged behind oil due to the lack of a domestic gas pipeline infrastructure.
Eurasia Review reports that the Kazakhstan-China gas pipeline will enable the transport of gas to Kazakhstan’s industrial region when it comes online in 2014.
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