Kazakhstan's main oil export terminal in the Black Sea has closed for the third time this month. Oil tanker loading operations were suspended after Ukrainian drones struck two vessels at the terminal located in the Russian port of Novorossiysk and its surrounding areas.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which owns the terminal and the pipeline that transports Kazakhstan's oil through Russia to the Black Sea, reported this just two days after the resumption of loading operations at the terminal.
Repeated disruptions to CPC's infrastructure, through which about 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports are conducted, highlight the growing threat to the country's economic interests, as well as those of major oil companies Chevron and Exxon, which have significant investments in Kazakhstan, due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Previously, the suspension of export operations had forced the Central Asian state, which is among the top ten oil-exporting countries in the world within the OPEC+ framework, to temporarily reduce production, as it has no other convenient routes for supplying oil to global markets.
During the latest incident, CPC reported that Ukrainian drones attacked the tankers Nissos Sifnos, operating under the flag of the Marshall Islands, and Marathi, operating under the flag of the Isle of Man, resulting in a fire on Nissos Sifnos. According to the consortium, Nissos Sifnos was struck at the moment it was being loaded at the CPC terminal.
The Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan confirmed the attacks but did not specify that Ukraine was the perpetrator. Ukraine stated that it had attacked four Russian tankers in the Black and Azov Seas but did not clarify where.
Kazakhstan has previously condemned attacks on CPC facilities, while Kyiv has defended them as part of a campaign against infrastructure supporting Russian military operations, emphasizing that these actions are not directed against Kazakhstan.
The Central Asian state exports most of its oil to Europe
Kazakhstan, with a population of 20 million and the longest land border with Russia, is the largest economy in Central Asia and an important producer of energy resources and minerals. The country accounts for about 2% of global oil supplies, with Europe being the main export destination.
Like other Central Asian countries, the war has periodically caused inflationary shocks while also boosting economic growth through the redirection of trade routes. Russia remains the country's main trading partner.
The CPC pipeline, which is 1,510 kilometers long, is one of the longest in the world. Its construction began in 1999, and Chevron, Exxon, and other American companies provided nearly half of the investments in the project, which is worth approximately $2.6 billion.
The largest shareholders of CPC are Russia's Transneft, Kazakhstan's KazMunayGas, and Chevron.
Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy Erlan Akkenzhanov met with U.S. Ambassador Julie Stafki, and
