Kazakhstan will increase oil production by 12 million metric tons in 2009 and is interested in pumping it via Russia, the Kazakh president said Monday.

"It is very important that Kazakh oil should pass through Russia. We expect oil production to increase next year. It will grow by 12 million tons during the year," Nursultan Nazarbayev said at the end of a Russian-Kazakh border region forum.

The Kazakh leader said that oil production would be increased at the Kashagan deposit, where the Russian company LUKoil operates, in 2012-2013. At the same time, he said, Kazakhstan was ready to increase oil deliveries via other pipelines than the Caspian.

"This is beneficial for all of us," Nazarbayev said.