Attacks on Tankers Carrying Kazakh Oil Near CPC Continue After U.S. Talks

Two more tankers were attacked at the marine terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) and the adjacent area, one of which was loading Kazakh oil for Tengizchevroil. The attacks occurred after a phone call between Kazakhstan's foreign minister and the U.S. secretary of state, during which the situation around CPC was discussed, according to the website infohub.kz.

CPC reported that the tanker NIFFOS SIFNOS, flagged by the Marshall Islands and carrying oil from shipper Tengizchevroil (Chevron), was attacked by drones while loading at the remote mooring device VPU-3. The incident occurred on the night of July 30. After the attack, a fire broke out near the manifold for oil reception on deck. The crew, assisted by three CPC support vessels, extinguished the blaze. No casualties were reported among CPC employees or contractors, and an oil spill was avoided. No medical assistance or evacuation of the crew was required.

Another attack occurred six nautical miles from the marine terminal: the tanker MARATHI, flagged by the Isle of Man and heading to the terminal to load oil, was targeted. Oil loading at the terminal was suspended, but pipeline facilities are operating normally.

CPC stated that the attacks took place despite earlier appeals by Kazakhstan and other foreign shareholders of the consortium, including through the U.S. State Department, to avoid targeting international energy infrastructure. Hours earlier, Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev had a phone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where the situation around CPC was a key topic.

CPC had suspended oil loadings on July 20 after another drone attack on a tanker near the marine terminal. On July 19, two tankers — ASIA (carrying Tengizchevroil oil, flagged by Liberia) and NISSOS IOS (carrying oil from Kashagan B.V. and Maten Petroleum, flagged by the Marshall Islands) — were attacked while loading at VPU-1 and VPU-3. On July 17, the tanker Nordic Zenith, chartered by ExxonMobil, was attacked. CPC is the main export route for Kazakh oil, handling more than 80% of the country's total oil exports.

CPC shareholders: Russia — 24%, CPC Company (LLC) — 7%, KazMunayGas — 19%, Kazakhstan Pipeline Ventures LLC — 1.75%, Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company — 15%, Lukoil International GmbH — 12.5%, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company — 7.5%, Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited — 7.5%, BG Overseas Holdings Limited — 2%, Eni International N.A. N.V. S.ar.l. — 2%, and Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC — 1.75%.