AN OIL PIPELINE TO CHINA: AN ELEMENT OF STRUGGLE FOR CASPIAN RESOURCES

Abstract

Today, attention of many countries is riveted to the oil- and gas-rich Caspian coast. According to experts, it has a good chance of coming third (after the Gulf and Siberia) oil treasure-trove: this explains why the great powers have concentrated their geopolitical and geo-economic ef-forts there. The world’s leading countries are shaping their policies in the local states with a view to attain control over the fuel energy sources of the Central Asian and Caspian republics and possible transportation routes. Transnational companies, including those operating in the neighboring countries, are closely following the local developments and systematically monitor the hydrocarbon production and transportation projects. Under these conditions Kazakhstan has to meander among the great powers, which negatively affects its policies. The situation around the oil pipeline from Western Kazakhstan to China is highly illustrative in this respect.