Kazakhstan today is indeed a rising power in several ways. First of all it is a rising energy power because of its enormous oil wealth. The crude oil from the giant Tengiz field is exported through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) line to Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and from there with tankers to the international oil markets. On average 30 million tons of Kazakh crude oil reach the global oil market annually. That is a considerable amount, of course. However, not satisfied with this amount Kazakhstan aims to increase this to 50 million in the near future and ultimately to 67 million by 2012.
In terms of natural gas Kazakhstan is known to have 2 trillion cubic meters in proven reserves and also intends to produce a great deal of gas as a consequence of deposits overlaying its oil extraction plants. Super projects such as the Kashagan program could well produce “waste” natural gas in the billions of cubic meters.
Due to its enormous oil and gas wealth many countries have been trying to foster close energy relations with it. From Russia to China, to Iran and Europe Union, to the US and Turkey, leading countries are anxious to conclude energy deals with it. In this regard, France concluded important oil, gas and nuclear deals with Kazakhstan worth more than $6 billion only two weeks ago. Furthermore, before his visit to Turkey, Nazarbayev reiterated his support for the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline by increasing the supply of Kazakh oil.
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