Chevron-Led Consortium to Resume Kazakh Oil Exports via Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan Pipeline
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A Chevron-led consortium developing Kazakhstan’s Tengiz oilfield, the country’s largest energy project, will resume oil exports through the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline in November, according to three industry sources cited by Reuters. The move marks a significant step toward restoring regional oil flows after a months-long suspension triggered by contamination issues earlier this year.
Tengiz Oil Returns to BTC After Suspension
The Tengizchevroil (TCO) consortium — operated by Chevron (CVX.N) and including ExxonMobil, Lukoil, and Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGas — had halted exports through the BTC pipeline in August following reports of organic chloride contamination in Azeri BTC crude cargoes. The contamination, first discovered in July, caused several days of loading delays at Turkey’s Ceyhan terminal, prompting the consortium to suspend shipments as a precautionary measure.
While Kazakhstan restarted limited oil supplies via the BTC pipeline last month, the Tengiz project remained offline. One source confirmed that shipments of about 130,000 metric tons (roughly 1 million barrels) of Tengiz crude are planned for November, signaling a gradual normalization of operations.
Strategic Route Bypasses Russia
The BTC pipeline, operated by BP (BP.L), runs from Baku (Azerbaijan) through Tbilisi (Georgia) to Ceyhan (Turkey) on the Mediterranean coast. It primarily transports oil from Azerbaijan’s Azeri, Chirag, and Guneshli (ACG) fields but also serves as a strategic export route for Kazakhstan, allowing the Central Asian nation to reduce dependence on Russian transit infrastructure.
More than 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports currently move through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) via Russia’s Black Sea terminal at Yuzhnaya Ozereevka. The BTC pipeline offers an alternative outlet, providing geopolitical diversification and mitigating risks associated with potential disruptions or sanctions linked to Russian routes.
Kazakhstan delivers crude to the BTC system by tankers across the Caspian Sea from Aktau, supplying oil mainly from Tengiz and the Kashagan fields.
Export Volumes Decline Amid Technical Disruptions
According to official Azerbaijani data, oil exports through the BTC pipeline dropped to 20.57 million tons in the first nine months of 2025, down from 21.68 million tons during the same period in 2024. The reduction reflects both temporary technical disruptions and shifting supply patterns among regional producers.
Neither TCO nor Azerbaijan’s state energy firm SOCAR responded to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Regional Energy Context
Analysts say the return of Tengiz crude to the BTC pipeline will boost export stability and regional energy cooperation, particularly as Kazakhstan seeks to expand westward energy links with Europe. The Tengiz oilfield, one of the world’s deepest and largest, produces around 600,000 barrels per day and is a cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s economy.
With the BTC line back in service for Tengiz shipments, Kazakhstan is expected to regain some export flexibility while maintaining ties with both Western markets and regional transit partners in the South Caucasus.