Russian oil-major TNK-BP (TNBP.RS) is the only company given permission to export oil from Russia to China through the Atasu-Alashankou oil pipeline in Kazakhstan in 2008, Interfax news agency reported Thursday, citing a source in the Industry and Energy Ministry.
TNK-BP, 50% owned by BP PLC (BP), will deliver 500,000 metric tons of oil along this route in 2008.
The ministry refused OAO Gazprom Neft (SIBN.RS), the oil arm of state-controlled gas monopoly OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS), permission to export oil through the pipeline, Interfax said. Gazprom Neft had asked permission to deliver 1.1 million tons of oil to China via Kazakhstan from April to December 2008.
A Russian-Kazakh memorandum on mutual transit signed at the end of November last year envisions Russia being allowed to export up to 5 million tons of oil via Kazakhstan to China a year.