Kazakhstan\'s Energy Ministry has announced that Kazakhstan will start \"full-scale oil exports\" to China through the Atasu-Alashankou pipeline in May. The pipeline, which became operational in December is designed to have an initial annual capacity of 10 million tons. Also on 24 February, Energy Minister Baktykozha Izmukhambetov told Interfax that Kazakhstan hopes to increase oil production 30 percent by 2010 in comparison with 2005 figures. Izmukhambetov said that forecasted annual output of 24 million tons at the Tengiz oil field will aid the production boost. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Kazakhstan produced 1.22 million barrels of oil a day in 2004, with production expected to increase by approximately 10 percent in 2005. (Interfax-Kazakhstan)