Kazakhstan looks west after pipeline hit, avoiding China dependency

 

 Kazakhstan looks west after pipeline hit, avoiding China dependency

WASHINGTON -- The numbers tell the story. When a Ukrainian drone strike crippled the Caspian Pipeline Consortium pipeline through Russia -- Kazakhstan's main export artery -- Astana didn't turn to China to fill the gap.

Instead, it pivoted west, toward the Middle Corridor through Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, hoping to keep crude flowing to Europe.

The workaround has been painfully limited: Bloomberg data shows Kazakhstan managed to reroute only about 25,000 barrels a day in January, while CPC flows plunged by roughly 440,000 barrels.

But Astana is determined to diversify its routes. Its reluctance to deepen dependence on China is creating space not only for the Middle Corridor but also for President Donald Trump, who has taken a keen interest in the east-west network.