Kazakhstan calls on Ukraine to stop attacks on CPC oil terminal

Kazakhstan on Sunday strongly asked Ukraine to end attacks on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's (CPC) Black Sea terminal, through which more than one percent of the world's oil supplies pass. The response came after a major drone attack severely damaged loading infrastructure and disrupted oil exports.

The CPC consortium, whose shareholders include Russia, Kazakhstan and US companies, said it was forced to halt operations after the Ukrainian naval drone strike. In particular, the floating loading point SPM 2 was damaged, with tankers having to leave the area.

Kazakhstan's foreign ministry described the incident as the third attack on a "purely civilian facility protected by international law" and warned that such actions were damaging bilateral relations with Ukraine. It also expects action to prevent similar incidents. Ukraine did not immediately comment on the attack.

CPC accounts for about 80 percent of Kazakhstan's oil exports and connects the large oil fields of Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan to a terminal near Novorossiysk. Russian diplomacy has described the attack as a threat to global security and says such actions constitute terrorism. Ukraine, on the other hand, argues that it is attacking infrastructure that supports Russia's war economy.

(reuters, sab)