Interfax cited Mr Daniyar Berlibayev MD of KazMunayGas as saying that Kazakhstan will prepare a feasibility study on the Caspian gas pipeline project in the first quarter of 2010.

He said that "We had planned to complete this year but we will put it off until next year."

Mr Berlibayev said Kazakhstan needs to estimate the projected gas volume that will be pumped through the pipeline. He said that "We need to have an idea about the gas transportation volumes to draw up the study. We need to know the amount of gas to make feasibility estimates."

Mr Sauat Mynbayev Kazakh Energy and Mineral Resources Minister said on September 11th that Kazakhstan would complete the feasibility study for the Caspian gas pipeline project in November 2009.

He said that "The project's feasibility study will be completed by Kazakhstan in November. The whole technical and economic report on the project will be completed in January. He added that by the start of 2010, Kazakhstan will be legally and technologically prepared to implement the project."

(Sourced from Interfax)