The Kazakh Energy Ministry is considering oil export routes that run through Azerbaijan, the ministry said on Wednesday.

In light of sanctions against Russia, the Kazakhstan government hopes to diversify oil export through multiple countries including China and Iran. The ministry said that anti-Russian sanctions should not affect oil and gas coming from the region, even those using Russian pipelines.

Kazakh Economy Minister Erbolat Dossaev announced plans to address the potential of further sanctions against Russia in August.