The Caspian pipeline CPC expects to receive oil from the huge Kashagan oil field, now idle, in May or June and to boost the conduit's capacity by 50 percent next year, sources at the consortium said Monday.
Kazakhstan's Kashagan oilfield, the world's biggest crude discovery in half a century, has been out of operation since October due to a gas leak.
"We will be ready to take all the Kashagan oil when the output resumes in May-June, as expected," a source said.
A second source said the annual capacity of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, or CPC, would increase next year to 48 million tons — almost 1 million barrels per day — from 32 million now.
Repeated delays have infuriated the Kazakh government, which has threatened to fine the NCOC consortium operating the project.
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