Kazakh oil can be freely exported to Europe - EU Special Envoy

ASTANA. March 17 (Interfax) - Kazakh oil can be freely exported to Europe by any means and is not subject to sanctions, said David O'Sullivan, the EU Special Envoy for Sanctions.

"There are no sanctions on Kazakh oil. Kazakh oil can be freely exported to Europe by any means. Moreover, we welcome this," O'Sullivan told a press conference in Astana on Tuesday, when asked about possible restrictions related to the Druzhba oil pipeline.

O'Sullivan is visiting Kazakhstan on March 17-18. During the trip, he held meetings with Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin, as well as the leadership of the National Bank. This is his fifth visit to the republic.

Earlier, Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov said that Kazakh oil was not subject to sanctions restrictions concerning the Druzhba main oil pipeline, and the republic will continue supplies along this route.

On February 24, 2026, the United Kingdom included Russian pipeline operator Transneft in its sanctions list. A temporary license for winding down operations was issued, valid until April 9, 2026. The UK's general license dated January 10, 2025, which applies to projects covered by sanctions exceptions (Russian Oil Exempt Projects), covers the Druzhba pipeline and allows operations on it to continue until October 14, 2027.

Kazakhstan has been supplying oil to Germany via the Druzhba pipeline since 2023. At the end of 2025, the supply volume amounted to 2.1 million tonnes, and in 2026, it is expected to reach 2.5 million tonnes.