Kazakhstan’s main oil export route has been disrupted after the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) suspended crude intake following drone attacks on tankers near its Black Sea terminal.
The suspension follows a series of attacks on vessels operating near the CPC marine terminal outside Novorossiysk, Reuters reported, citing three oil industry sources. According to the sources, five oil tankers were targeted by drones near the terminal during July, raising security concerns for shipping operators and disrupting export operations.
The consortium announced a temporary suspension of oil loading on 20 July but said its infrastructure had not been damaged. Neither the pipeline nor the marine terminal was reported to have suffered any operational failures.
According to Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, the disruption was caused by a logistical bottleneck rather than damage to the export infrastructure. Tankers were reportedly unable or unwilling to approach the terminal because of the security risks, despite the facilities remaining operational.
The developments are being closely watched by international energy companies involved in the consortium. Chevron, which owns a 15% stake in the CPC, said it was monitoring the situation closely.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Energy issued a joint statement condemning attacks on oil tankers and international energy infrastructure. Separately, Ukraine’s ambassador to Kazakhstan, Viktor Maiko, said drone attacks on tankers loading Kazakh crude at the CPC terminal “do not serve Ukraine’s interests”.
The latest disruption highlights the vulnerability of export operations to maritime security threats. Even without damage to the pipeline itself, restrictions on tanker movements can interrupt the flow of crude through one of Kazakhstan’s most important export corridors.
Against that backdrop, Kazakhstan is pressing ahead with plans to expand the capacity of its three existing oil refineries while also considering the construction of a new refinery capable of processing 10 million tonnes of crude a year. The projects form part of broader efforts to develop the country’s downstream oil sector as uncertainty persists over its main export route.
The U.S. has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites as Tehran retaliated against U.S. p...
Overnight strikes killed at least three people, including one child, in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, Serhiy Lys...
Tyler Robinson, the man accused of killing U.S. conservative activist Charlie Kirk, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday after a Utah judge ruled that pro...
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as leaders gather for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the group marks 25 years since its creation.
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases in Jordan in the first direct U.S.-Iran military escalation in weeks.
Kyrgyzstan is hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, bringing together thousands of athletes from around the world for a celebration of traditional sports, cultural heritage and nomadic traditions.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 1st September, covering the latest developments.
Pakistan has taken over the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif putting connectivity, artificial intelligence and regional security at the centre of Islamabad’s agenda for the bloc.
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the group marks 25 years since its creation.
The European Union has added $17.4 million to its ongoing partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan, extending support for climate-resilient livelihoods, school feeding and agribusiness as drought and food insecurity continue to strain rural communities.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has ruled that India remains bound by the Indus Waters Treaty and must continue to comply with its obligations under the decades-old water-sharing agreement with Pakistan, despite New Delhi's decision last year to place the treaty "in abeyance".
At least 11 people, including eight children, have been killed after a powerful explosion at a firecracker factory in northern India, authorities said, with rescue teams continuing to search through debris amid fears the toll could rise.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment