Key facts
- Four drone strikes targeted tankers carrying Kazakhstan's oil at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's Black Sea terminal over four days.
- The attacks have led to the suspension of crude oil exports from the terminal.
- Kazakhstan condemned the strikes, calling them an unacceptable infringement on its economic interests and a threat to global energy security.
- The Caspian Pipeline Consortium route handles approximately 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports and over 1% of global supply.
- The attacked vessels were civilian ships engaged in legitimate commercial transportation of oil.
Multiple drone strikes targeting tankers carrying Kazakhstan's oil have disrupted exports from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's (CPC) Black Sea terminal. The attacks, which have occurred over four consecutive days, have led to the suspension of crude oil loading operations.
Kazakhstan has strongly condemned the incidents, labeling them as unacceptable infringements on its economic interests and deliberate acts aimed at destabilizing international trade and global energy markets. The foreign and energy ministries stated that the attacks undermine global energy security and the economic interests of CPC member countries.
The CPC route is a critical artery for Kazakhstan's economy, transporting approximately 80% of its oil exports and contributing over 1% to global oil supply. The pipeline stretches 1,510 kilometers to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. The attacked vessels were described as civilian ships engaged in legitimate commercial transportation.
Specific incidents include the Nordic Zenith tanker being hit on Friday, followed by the ASIA and NISSOS IOS tankers on Sunday while loading. On Monday, the NELSA tanker was struck, causing a fire that was extinguished without an oil spill or damage to the Single Point Mooring (SPM) facilities. CPC has stated this is the fifth act of direct aggression against a civilian facility.