By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, June 23 -- Calgary-based PetroKazakhstan Inc. reported that construction has been completed on the 16-in., 177 km KAM oil pipeline (formerly known as QAM pipeline) and Dzhusaly railcar loading terminal. The $77 million line was built to "reduce transportation distance by 1,300 km on west-bound exports of crude oil from the company's oil fields in the South Turgai basin" in Kazakhstan, the company said.
"The first 22,100 bbl of crude oil, consisting of 49 tank cars, have been loaded for shipment," PetroKazakhstan said. The oil will be delivered to Atyrau on the Caspian Sea, where it will be exported to Europe.
KAM will have an initial capacity of 100,000 b/d of oil and is reportedly the first high-pressure oil pipeline built in Kazakhstan, the company stated.
PetroKazakhstan, which is formerly known as Hurricane Hydrocarbons Ltd., changed its name earlier this year (OGJ Online, Apr. 7, 2003).