Georgia and Azerbaijan sign landmark energy and transport agreements in Baku
In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partne...
Kazakhstan is assessing the scale of damage and potential losses following a recent attack on infrastructure operated by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, a key export route for the country’s oil.
Energy Minister Yerlan Akkhenzhenov has reiterated that the incident underscored the unacceptability of attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure, a position earlier articulated by his ministry in a statement.
According to the minister, the attack caused a significant breach measuring approximately two and a half by three metres as a result of a targeted explosion.
The damage was sustained by an offshore loading facility, known as an offshore single point mooring.
Divers are currently working to restore the buoyancy of the installation, after which specialists will need to access the interior to assess the condition of the technological equipment.
If repairs prove technically feasible, the damaged unit, referred to as SPM-2, will be brought back into operation, Akkhenzhenov said.
Restoration work is under way, although progress is being slowed by adverse weather conditions in the region.
Experts say winter weather and sea conditions are likely to be decisive in determining how quickly repairs can be completed.
If the sea remains calm, companies involved may be able to keep to planned timelines, but seasonal conditions add an element of uncertainty to offshore operations.
The latest attack on CPC infrastructure took place on 29 November at 06:06 Astana time, when unmanned boats disabled the SPM-2 facility in the waters of the port of Novorossiysk.
In response, the Kazakh government placed the situation under special control, and on 30 November the country’s foreign ministry lodged an official protest with Ukraine.
As the disruption affected part of Kazakhstan’s export capacity, authorities and companies moved to adjust oil flows.
On 10 December it was announced that some volumes of crude from the Kashagan field had begun to be redirected to China.
At the same time, KazTransOil announced plans to increase regional supplies and resume transit operations to neighbouring states.
According to the company’s press service, in December 2025 oil transportation volumes will rise in two directions, to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Supplies to Kyrgyzstan were resumed in November 2025, marking the first shipments along this route since 2017.
By the end of the year, deliveries to Kyrgyzstan are expected to reach up to 30 000 tonnes.
In parallel, KazTransOil plans to restart oil transit to Uzbekistan in December, with volumes of up to 35 000 tonnes.
Overall, combined deliveries to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are set to total 65 000 tonnes by the end of 2025, with up to 55 000 tonnes scheduled for December alone.
Oil is transported through KazTransOil’s main pipeline system to the Shagyr oil loading point, where it is transferred into railway tank cars for onward shipment.
The company says the increase in volumes has been made possible by effective and mutually beneficial cooperation with international partners, allowing Kazakhstan to maintain export flexibility amid ongoing challenges to its traditional export routes.
The World Urban Forum (WUF13) continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 18 May, addressing the global housing crisis. The day’s agenda includes the official opening press conference, the WUF13 Urban Expo opening and a ministerial dialogue on the Nairobi Declaration to advance Africa's urban agenda.
United Nations World Urban Forum 13 continues in Baku, Azerbaijan on 19 May with sessions and roundtable discussions focused on strengthening dialogue and advancing cooperation in urban development. Organisers say there are nearly 3 billion people globally who face some form of housing inadequacy.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he had paused a planned attack on Iran after appeals from the leaders of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, allowing negotiations to continue over a possible deal to end the conflict.
A 5.2 magnitude earthquake struck China’s Guangxi region early on Monday, killing two people and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate as rescue efforts continued.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a sweeping diplomatic push in Baku, Georgia and Azerbaijan have signed a landmark package of energy and transport agreements, cementing a partnership set to shape the South Caucasus corridor for decades to come.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for closer security coordination between Central Asia and China, warning that expanding trade and infrastructure links are exposing the region to increasingly sophisticated cross-border threats.
Azerbaijan and Georgia have agreed to resume daily passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route from 26 May, 2026, marking a major step in restoring regional rail connectivity after services were suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Israeli forces intercepted dozens of Gaza-bound aid vessels in the eastern Mediterranean on Monday (18 May), prompting condemnation from the United Nations and Türkiye, while flotilla organisers said several ships continued sailing toward Gaza despite the operation.
Pakistan has deployed around 8,000 troops, fighter jets and air defence systems to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defence agreement, according to security officials and government sources familiar with the arrangement.
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