Kazakhstan is open to expanding its oil export routes through Azerbaijan and advancing joint energy infrastructure projects across the Caspian region, Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov told AnewZ in an exclusive interview in Baku.
Akkenzhenov said Kazakhstan is actively assessing several options for transporting additional volumes of crude oil, including existing infrastructure and alternative routes through Azerbaijan.
He confirmed that Kazakhstan is currently using the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline and is satisfied with the arrangement, with annual shipments of around 1.5 million tonnes.
“We are working now with Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan and we are very happy,” Akkenzhenov said, adding that expansion remains possible depending on transportation costs.
He also pointed to the Baku–Supsa route as another available option under consideration.
“It all depends on the transportation costs,” he noted.
The minister also confirmed progress on a planned Green Energy Cable project designed to run beneath the Caspian Sea, describing it as a key long-term initiative for regional energy integration.
“We have some projects under development. First of all, this is of course the green energy cable,” he said.
Akkenzhenov added that the initiative had been referenced by Azerbaijan’s leadership, underscoring its political and economic significance for Caspian energy cooperation.
The comments reflect Kazakhstan’s broader strategy of strengthening export resilience through multiple transit corridors, particularly via the South Caucasus.
Energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan has increasingly focused on developing integrated infrastructure linking the Caspian region with European markets.
Akkenzhenov made the remarks during a visit to Baku for regional energy discussions, including the Investment Forum on Energy Transition in Central Asia, held as part of Baku Energy Week.
The forum has become an important platform for regional coordination on renewable energy, infrastructure development and cross-border energy projects involving Central Asian and Caspian states.
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