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Kazakhstan Launches Test Oil Export Route to China
One of Kazakhstan's largest oil refineries announced on Thursday that it has launched a new test export route from its southern Kumkol field to markets in northwest China.
Shymkentnefteorgsyntez (ShNOS), an affiliate of Canadian Hurricane Hydrocarbons, and the China National United Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) said they had successfully shipped 2,440 tonnes of Kumkol crude by rail into China.
The crude from the field in southern Kazakhstan was part of a trial shipment of 25,000 tonnes that is to be exported to China by the end of the month.
CNPC wants to acquire 50,000 tonnnes of Kumkol crude oil a month to feed its refineries in northwest China starting in July, according to a joint statement from the two companies.
If the trial proves to be a success, ShNOS expects to export both crude and refined products via this export route, the statement said.
The Kumkol field, which is estimated to contain reserves of 429 million barrels of oil, is being developed by Hurricane Kumkol Munai, of which Hurricane Hydrocarbons owns 89.5 percent of shares.
ShNOS last year refined 3.3 million tonnes of oil compared to 3.6 million tonnes in 1998 and 3.4 million tonnes in 1997.
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