Kazakhstan appeals to US, Europe to stop drone attacks on its Black Sea oil shipping

Kazakhstan on January 14 appealed for assistance from the US and Europe in strengthening the security of its major oil export corridor following more drone attacks on Black Sea tankers.

Three tankers due to pick up Kazakh crude were on January 13 hit by unidentified drones, including a vessel chartered by US oil major Chevron – and Kazakhstan feels it is unfairly bearing the brunt of one of the battlefronts in the Russo-Ukrainian War, despite not taking sides in the conflict.

“We underscore that the Republic of Kazakhstan is not a party to any armed conflict, makes a significant contribution to global and European energy security, and ensures the uninterrupted supply of energy resources in full accordance with established international norms,” Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

It also noted that the “tankers possessed all the required permits and were equipped with the necessary identification systems”.

It is tankers heading for Russian Black Sea coast oil export terminal facilities near Novorossiysk that are being increasingly attacked.

However, it is Kazakhstan that largely uses the terminal. It ships around 80% of its exported crude from the facility – thus making it vital to the oil production-geared Kazakh economy – while Russia transports significant but, in contrast, minimal volumes from the terminal. In all, oil exported from near Novorossiysk using Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC's) loading points accounts for roughly 1% of global oil supply.

Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry recapped how the latest drone attacks followed a major attack on November 29, when drones damaged CPC export infrastructure. The drone assault, claimed by Kyiv unlike the incidents this week, has since meant reduced oil shipments from the terminal as engineers struggle to repair the damage amid a lack of easily obtainable parts and rough weather at sea.

“The increasing frequency of such incidents highlights the growing risks to the functioning of international energy infrastructure,” the ministry added, urging partner countries to intensify cooperation and develop coordinated measures to prevent further attacks.

“In this regard, during immediate meetings with ambassadors of several European countries, as well as with representatives of the United States and other international partners, we emphasised the urgent need to take effective measures to ensure the security of hydrocarbon transportation, including along maritime routes, in full compliance with international law,” the ministry’s statement continued.

The CPC pipeline system that stretches 1,500 kilometres (930 miles) from Kazakhstan to the terminal is jointly owned by Kazakhstan’s state oil company KazMunayGas, Russia’s Lukoil and subsidiaries of US energy companies Chevron and ExxonMobil.

Russian Black Sea terminals collectively handle more than 2% of global crude shipments. The sea, shared by Russia and Ukraine as well as Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Georgia, is also a critical corridor for grain exports. Russia appears to have stepped up attacks on export market vessels carrying Ukrainian agricultural commodities across the Black Sea in response to the higher frequency of drone attacks on oil shipping by Ukraine.

Member of the Kazakh parliament Aidos Sarym said on January 14 that responsibility for ensuring the security of CPC infrastructure — in which Russia is a major shareholder — should be shared among all stakeholders.

“I believe Chevron is one of the largest shareholders. We also know Ukraine relies heavily on US support. Chevron is not a minor player globally,” Sarym was quoted as saying by Tengrinews. “I think the US and our other partners must jointly urge Ukraine to reconsider its targeting priorities.”