ASTANA, March 26 (Reuters) - The cost of the giant Tengiz oilfield expansion project in Kazakhstan has increased by about 5% from the previous $47 billion estimate, Kazakh Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev told Reuters on Tuesday.

Satkaliyev said the additional spending at the project led by Chevron is aimed to ensure the quality and safety of work. (Reporting by Tamara Vaal; Writing by Olzhas Auyezov; Editing by Muralikumar Anantharaman)