Tengizchevroil exports 20,000 tons of oil via Batumi after CPC loading halt
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Tengizchevroil has resumed oil exports through Georgia after three months, sending 20,000 tons via Batumi port, Reuters reports. The move comes as the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal again suspended loading due to drone attacks on tankers.
The Batumi Route
Tengizchevroil shipped about 20,000 metric tons of oil from Tengiz to Georgia’s Batumi port by rail, the first such delivery since a three-month interruption, according to two sources cited by Reuters’ Moscow bureau. The crude is loaded onto tankers in Batumi and transported via the Black Sea to Turkey. TCO has not commented on the resumption. The route serves as a backup to the primary CPC pipeline, which normally handles 80% of Kazakh exports.
CPC Loading Halt
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal near Novorossiysk suspended loading operations on July 30, Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry confirmed, without specifying the duration. The halt came after a drone attack targeted vessels scheduled to receive Kazakh oil. Previous shutdowns have cost Kazakhstan significant sums, and the latest incident follows a pattern of regular drone strikes on tankers in the area. The CPC pipeline is the main export channel for Kazakhstan’s crude.
Diplomatic Tensions
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Kazakhstan’s economic interests are “increasingly suffering” from Ukraine’s actions, following the drone attack. Ukraine’s ambassador to Kazakhstan, Viktor Maiko, has previously stated that there is no evidence linking Kyiv to the strikes. The attacks have added urgency to Kazakhstan’s efforts to diversify export routes, with the Batumi alternative gaining importance amid the ongoing disruptions.
What's Next
Kazakhstan is expected to increase the use of the Batumi route if CPC disruptions persist. It remains unclear how long the terminal suspension will last or whether additional security measures for tankers will be adopted.
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Tengizchevroil exports 20,000 tons of oil via Batumi after CPC loading halt
