Kazakhstan is the world’s largest landlocked country
Kazakhstan is key to the Middle Corridor
The race to go around Russia is on and the New Silk Road has a Central Asian energy flavour
The Middle Corridor, a major new trade route from China running through Central Asia to Europe that bypasses Russia and its Northern Corridor, has been on the drawing board for decades. Now, the war in Ukraine may have finally created the incentives needed to make it happen. Energy is at the centre of the route, and Kazakhstan—a big, potential beneficiary looking to diversify its oil export routes—is moving full speed ahead to take advantage. “With Russia weakening its grip on the region, it is quite timely that [regional leaders] started discussing this again, and I think this is quite a realistic project, because if Kazakhstan builds a trans-Caspian oil pipeline, they will minimise the ris
Also in this section
28 April 2026
The key energy player faces balancing regional routes, political complexities, and creating a clear strategic vision for energy security
24 April 2026
The European Commission’s response to the Middle East crisis is to double down on its transition strategy, with plans for a new target on electrification
24 April 2026
A major new discovery by Eni and BP that can likely be fast-tracked to production is welcome news for Egypt as it scrambles to plug a widening supply gap and deal with rising import risks
24 April 2026
Countries in the region are turning to the cleaner-burning fuel for power generation, driving demand for imports
