Kazakhstan plans to export 1.5 million tons of oil to Germany in 2023, and the first delivery, with a volume of 20,000 tons, would arrive in Germany in January, Kazakh Energy Minister Bolat Akchulakov announced on Wednesday. reports Interfax.

“We were awaiting an official confirmation from Russian colleagues that it would be let through the Russian territory. We already have an oral confirmation,” said Bolat Akchulakov at a press conference, where he was asked if Russia allowed the transportation of Kazakh oil to Germany via the Drujba pipeline.

Akchulakov also stated that the country plans to export 1.5 million tons of crude oil to Germany in 2023. “Total deliveries could reach 1.5 million tons per year,” Akchulakov said, adding that the state is able to export six to seven million tons of crude oil to Germany, according to Agerpres.

Europe’s largest economy previously said it plans to end Russian oil imports at the end of 2022. Historically, Germany’s Leuna and Schwedt refineries have been heavily dependent on pipeline imports of Russian oil. But these refineries no longer ordered Russian oil for 2023, and Kazakh oil, which would reach Germany via the Drujba pipeline via Poland, would replace Russian crude oil.

Also, Bolat Akchulakov announced on Wednesday that last year Kazakhstan produced 53.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 84.2 million tons of oil, while oil exports amounted to 64.3 million tons. In 2023, Kazakhstan plans to produce 90.5 million tons of oil and export 71 million tons, Akchulakov said.

Kazakhstan’s national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG), the company that could supply oil to Germany in January, is the majority shareholder of KMG International, a company that owns and operates major refining, petrochemical, retail and trading operations in several international markets. KMG International’s retail network includes over 1,100 fuel supply points in Romania, Georgia, Bulgaria and the Republic of Moldova.