Kazakhstan suspends oil loading at two CPC single point moorings after drone attack
Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry reported a temporary halt in oil loading at two single point moorings of the CPC marine terminal after a drone attack near the facility. Intake of oil into the CPC system is not restricted. The incident occurred amid a series of attacks on tankers and infrastructure of the consortium, through which the bulk of Kazakh oil exports flows.
Sources
· 10Казахстан приостановил отгрузку нефти на двух ВПУ КТК после атаки дрона
1Танкер с казахстанской нефтью Seaviolet повреждён при атаке на Новороссийск
2Зеленский заявил об ударе по порту Новороссийска, повреждён танкер с казахстанской нефтью
3Танкер Skiros атакован в Черном море после загрузки российской нефти на терминале КТК; пострадавших нет
4Атакован танкер на терминале КТК; погрузка остановлена, экспорт возобновлён
5Беспилотник атаковал танкер у терминала КТК, угрозы нефти нет
6Терминал «Шесхарис» в Новороссийске приостановил погрузку нефти после атаки беспилотников
7Танкер Chevron с нефтью КТК атакован дронами в Черном море
8Украинский дрон атаковал судно, ремонтировавшее причалы КТК под Сочи
9Украина поразила судно обеспечения NEFRIT у терминала КТК в Сочи
10Key points
- Kazakhstan temporarily suspended oil loading at two single point moorings of the CPC marine terminal after a drone attack near the facility; there are no restrictions on intake of oil into the system.
- On September 9, the port of Novorossiysk was attacked by drones, and the tanker Seaviolet sustained minor damage, completed loading and left the port.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike on a naval base and an oil terminal in Novorossiysk.
- More than 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports flow through CPC — it is the main supply route.
What happened
Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry reported a temporary halt in oil loading at two single point moorings of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium marine terminal after a drone attack near the facility. There are no restrictions on intake of oil into the CPC system.
The tanker Seaviolet, stationed at CPC's third single point mooring, was damaged when a drone was intercepted above it and debris fell onto the vessel. After the attack, Seaviolet completed loading and left the port. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the strike on a naval base and an oil terminal.
Why it matters
The bulk of Kazakhstan's oil exports — more than 80% — flows through CPC. The September 9 attack occurred despite an August agreement under which Ukraine reportedly promised Washington to refrain from strikes on CPC infrastructure.
What changed
In July, an attack on the tanker Nissos Sifnos already caused a temporary suspension of loading, after which exports resumed. In August, the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk suspended intake and loading of oil after a drone attack. Now Kazakhstan has suspended loading at two SPMs, but intake of oil into the system continues.
Who's affected
The tanker Seaviolet was carrying Kazakh oil from the Tengiz field. The Marshall Islands-flagged tanker Nissos Sifnos was loading oil from Tengizchevroil (Chevron). The supply vessel Nefrit was repairing CPC berths and was attacked by a Ukrainian naval drone on September 3.
Previously
- On July 17, a drone attacked the tanker Nordic Zenith near the CPC terminal; the crew extinguished a fire, and there were no casualties or oil spill.
- On July 30, the tanker Nissos Sifnos, loading oil from Tengizchevroil, was attacked by drones; loading was temporarily halted, and exports resumed.
- On September 3, the Ukrainian Navy claimed to have hit the supply vessel NEFRIT in the port of Sochi.