Tengizchevroil to export 100,000 tons of crude via Georgia's Batumi in August, sources say

MOSCOW, Aug 4 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's Tengizchevroil (TCO) plans to export some 100,000 metric tons of oil by rail to Georgia's Black Sea port of Batumi in August, two sources familiar with the company's plans said.

TCO is using alternative, more costly export routes to prevent a further decline in crude output amid unstable exports through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) pipeline, the main export route for Kazakh oil.

Restrictions on exports via the CPC have led to a sharp decline in crude oil production in Kazakhstan in recent weeks.

In the most recent disruption, the CPC on Thursday halted crude oil shipments at the Black Sea terminal in Yuzhnaya Ozereevka, near Novorossiysk, following a drone attack on tankers.

Loadings have resumed since, but remain unstable, the sources said.

Kazakhstan's energy ministry said on Saturday that a complete stoppage of the CPC operations was not being considered and that the current situation was under control.

Tengizchevroil and Kazakhstan's state oil pipeline company KazTransOil (KTO), the owner of Batumi Oil Terminal, declined to comment.

Last month TCO, operator of Kazakhstan's giant Tengiz oilfield, sent exports via Batumi for the first time since March, some 20,000 tons of oil.

That's equivalent to roughly 160,000 barrels, and August's plan to around 800,000, which is approximately one day's worth of normal supply from the Tengiz oilfield to the CPC pipeline.

More than 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports are shipped via the CPC pipeline, with most volumes originating from the Tengiz, Kashagan and Karachaganak fields.

U.S. oil major Chevron CVX.N is the largest shareholder in TCO with a 50% stake. Exxon Mobil XOM.N holds 25%, Kazakhstan's KazMunayGaz KMGZ.KZ 20%, and Russia's Lukoil LKOH.MM 5%.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Jason Neely)