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Energy Realignment: Kazakhstan and Türkiye Discuss Upgrading BTC Route to Bypass Russia
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Kazakhstan and Türkiye are exploring the possibility of expanding Kazakh oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline, according to Reuters on July 30, citing a statement from the press service of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The discussion took place during Tokayev’s official visit to Ankara for a meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council.
“The delegations discussed issues of cooperation in the energy sector, including prospects for increasing exports via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline,” the statement said, without disclosing further details.
In addition to energy cooperation, the talks covered joint initiatives in power generation, agriculture, and mining.
According to Kazakhstan’s official statistics, oil exports via the BTC pipeline rose by 12% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, reaching 785,000 tons, or approximately 34,000 barrels per day. The crude is transported across the Caspian Sea by tanker from the port of Aktau to Baku.
However, infrastructure upgrades at Aktau would be required to support any significant increase in volumes. Additional limitations stem from BTC pipeline quality requirements, which restrict the volume of Kazakh crude that can be blended and transported.
Kazakhstan’s development strategy through 2029 includes a long-term plan to construct a trans-Caspian oil pipeline and establish marine terminals on both the Kazakh and Azerbaijani coasts.
As the world’s largest landlocked country, Kazakhstan relies heavily on energy exports, most of which still pass through Russian territory en route to the Black Sea and Baltic ports. In the first half of 2025, only 5.9% of Kazakhstan’s total oil exports—amounting to 32.6 million tonnes—bypassed Russian ports, a share that remains unchanged from 2024.
Earlier, the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned Chinese officials that continued imports of sanctioned Russian oil may trigger steep tariffs under legislation currently advancing in Congress.
Bessent noted that the proposed bill would grant President Donald Trump the authority to impose tariffs of up to 500% on nations that persist in purchasing Russian oil under sanctions. He also emphasized that such action could lead US allies to adopt similar measures aimed at curbing Russia’s energy revenues.
