Oil from Kazakhstan’s Tengiz and Kashagan fields is directed to the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline via Aktau, but the maximum capacity of the railway corridor to Aktau is limited, said Colin Nesbeth, head of Central Asia Marketing company, during his speech at the II Caspian and Central Asia Oil Trade and Logistics Forum organized by GLENMAR Group, APA-Economics reports.
“I should note that the maximum capacity of the railway corridor to Aktau is about 5 million tons. Currently, real operational indicators are around 3–4 million tons,” Nesbeth noted.
According to him, the existing problems include limited state funding, a shortage of vessels, and weak port infrastructure. In particular, the shortage of tankers is a serious problem against the background of Russian vessels being taken out of use due to sanctions.
“There is a great need for dredging works at the Aktau port. In addition, the decline in the level of the Caspian Sea further complicates the situation. Currently, it is possible to load a maximum of 7–8 thousand tons, and sometimes even less, at the Aktau port,” Colin Nesbet emphasized.
He added that Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan should develop not alternative but additional supply routes.
Colin Nesbeth also stated that significant investments are required in railway and port infrastructure on both sides of the Caspian Sea. One of the main solutions could be the installation of single-point moorings (SPM).
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