bp proposed creating a new energy corridor through Azerbaijan

British oil and gas corporation British Petroleum (bp) has expressed readiness to participate in the formation of a new energy route designed for the export of gas from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan through the territory of Azerbaijan via the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC).

As reported by Report, this was stated by bp Azerbaijan's Chief Geologist Bagir Ibragimov. He noted that at the end of March, bp's regional leadership confirmed Kazakhstan's central role in the establishment of the "Azerbaijan - Kazakhstan - Turkmenistan" energy corridor.

"bp expects to apply the experience accumulated in Azerbaijan to build synchronized infrastructure. Thanks to this, it will become possible to transport gas from Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan across the Caspian Sea with further connection to the SGC," B. Ibragimov emphasized.

According to his assessment, by 2030 the said corridor could become one of the most important tools for diversifying energy supplies to Europe, with Kazakhstan possessing the potential to provide a substantial share of production.

B. Ibragimov also recalled that Kazakhstan's national company KazMunayGas (KMG) and bp Exploration Operating Company Limited signed a cooperation agreement in the field of geological exploration and development of the promising Ustyurt block, located in the Mangistau region of Kazakhstan. As the geologist noted, one of the elements contributing to the corridor's development will be the joint activities of bp and KazMunayGas aimed at expanding Kazakhstan's resource base.

"The project envisages conducting large-scale geological exploration works in the Ustyurt basin in western Kazakhstan - a region that, according to preliminary estimates, holds significant unexplored gas reserves. The multi-year program covers the execution of comprehensive 2D and 3D seismic surveys, as well as the drilling of a number of deep exploration wells in the period from 2026 to 2029," B. Ibragimov emphasized.