Kazakhstan in Central Asia has tempered potential expectations of a large-scale expansion of oil supply to Europe. Kazakhstan cannot simply replace the amounts lost in the West by not using Russian oil, energy minister of the oil and gas-rich ex-Soviet republic Bolat Akschulakov said in the capital Nur-Sultan on Wednesday. “We don’t have that option.”
Akshulakov emphasized that oil production cannot be compared to a tap that you can simply turn more often to obtain larger quantities. “To produce such amounts of oil, you have to invest a lot of money in the fields and drill well,” he said. “It takes a lot of time and money.”
Just a month ago, Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev promised the EU oil and gas supplies. “Kazakhstan is ready to use its hydrocarbon potential to stabilize the situation in world markets, including in Europe.”
Russia’s ally fairly neutral
Due to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, EU countries have agreed an embargo on tanker oil from Russia, but oil from the pipeline should continue to flow. Kazakhstan, on the other hand, is considered an ally of Russia, but does not clearly side with Moscow when it comes to Ukraine. President Tokayev caused a stir in mid-June when he stated during a joint panel discussion with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin that Kazakhstan – unlike Russia – would not recognize the eastern Ukrainian separatist regions of Luhansk and Donetsk as independent states.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
