ALMATY, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry and Foreign Affairs Ministry are working together to address the implications of U.S. sanctions recently imposed on Russia's Lukoil energy corporation, the Kazinform news agency reported Tuesday, citing Kazakhstan's Deputy Energy Minister Sanzhar Zharkeshov.
It was previously reported that the U.S. Treasury Department had announced sanctions on Lukoil, one of Russia's largest oil producers, in an attempt to pressure Moscow into agreeing to an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. Following this, Lukoil announced that it would be selling its international assets.
Zharkeshov said that a potential purchase of Lukoil assets in Kazakhstan is being worked out with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Nurlan Zhakupov, chairman of the Board of Kazakhstan's sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna, said that for Kazakhstan and its national oil and gas company KazMunayGas (KMG), Lukoil "has been and remains a reliable partner."
Lukoil has been operating in Kazakhstan since 1995. Recently, Lukoil and KMG began implementing the Kalamkas-Sea and Khazar Fields joint development project on the Caspian Shelf.
