Kazakh leader says Russia clears CPC oil link boost

MOSCOW, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Russia has lifted its opposition to the expansion of a Chevron-led (CVX.N) oil export pipeline via its territory, known as the Caspian Pipeline Consortuim, Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev said on Thursday.

CPC ships oil produced in Kazakhstan and has been struggling to agree with Russia to double its capacity as Moscow criticises the project for low returns.

Nazarbayev said he raised the issue at talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He said Russia has agreed to lift its opposition after Kazakhstan pledged to join the Burgas-Alexandroupolis pipeline, a trans-Balkan pipeline to take Russian and Central Asian oil from Bulgaria to Greece. (Reporting by Oleg Shchedrov; writing by Dmitry Zhdannikov; editing by Douglas Busvine)