Russian, Chinese firms battle for oil in Kazakhstan

While the government of Kazakhstan is ‘politically and historically closer to Russia, and is wary of China,’ it nonetheless believes that ‘its interest lies in a diversification of investments and export routes’

A battle between Russian oil giant Lukoil and China’s CNPC for control of key energy assets in Kazakhstan intensified last week with both sides deploying lawyers to fight for holdings in the energy-rich central Asian country.