Kremlin Brands Caspian Pipeline Attacks as Terrorism

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the alleged Ukrainian attacks on facilities of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) as "energy terrorism" directed against Kazakhstan, Russia and the United States.

He was responding to Kazakhstan's decision to limit oil production after suspected drone attacks forced the closure of the CPC's export terminal on the Black Sea. Astana announced the measure on Thursday.

"This is clearly energy (terrorism), it is what they are doing in the Black Sea, in the Sea of Azov. These are terrorist attacks, international terrorist attacks, potentially extremely dangerous", RIA quoted Peskov as saying.

The Kremlin spokesman stated that the attacks are also directed against the United States, as an American investor is among the consortium's shareholders.

The suspension of oil loading from the CPC pipeline, which exports nearly 2% of global oil production, is heightening concerns about global energy supplies. The market is already facing tensions due to the war in Iran, which has disrupted oil supplies from Saudi Arabia and other producers in the Persian Gulf.

(Reuters, EST)