It will run two tankers, th 12,400-dwt Almaty (built 2005) and the 13,500-dwt Aktobe (buitl 2010), to Makhachkala in Russia and Baku in Azerbaijan.

The company said the move was part of its strategy for the further diversification of its business.

The owner has previously mainly loaded from Aktau, the Trend news agency reported.

“The decision on transferring the tankers to other routes was adopted under the conditions of the gradual decrease in oil shipments from Aktau port because of the reorientation of Kazakh oil to pipeline routes,” it added.