ASTANA, April 24 (Reuters) - Kazakh oil can help ensure
the Czech Republic's energy security after it stopped importing
Russian crude, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala said on a visit
to the Central Asian country.
"We need to boost our own energy security and your (oil)
could become a key factor in this," he told a briefing after
meeting Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Monday.
"Kazakhstan is a very important oil supplier to the Czech
Republic, we believe there is huge scope for cooperation, as we
are moving away from Russian oil," said Fiala who gave no detail
about the potential increase in Kazakh oil purchases.
Kazakhstan, Russia's southern neighbour, ships crude to
Europe via pipelines most of which cross Russia, although it has
this year significantly boosted shipments via alternative routes
such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
(Reporting by Tamara Vaal; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing
by Alexander Smith)
Messaging: olzhas.auyezov.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.