The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) has resumed oil loadings at its Novorossiysk terminal on the Black Sea using one of its three Single Point Mooring (SPM) systems following a Ukrainian sea drone attack. The attack, which occurred early Saturday, disabled SPM 2, which reportedly sank. Operations are currently being conducted via SPM 1. A third SPM is undergoing scheduled maintenance, a planned operation to replace subsea hoses that began in November.

Terminal Operations and Infrastructure

The three SPMs are connected via five-kilometer offshore pipelines to an onshore export and storage terminal near Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka. This terminal is a critical node for oil transported through the 1,500-kilometer CPC pipeline from Kazakhstan's major Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak oil fields. The consortium has significant storage capacity, with nearly 8 million barrels available at the Black Sea terminal and additional capacity at pumping stations along the pipeline route, allowing production to continue during loading disruptions.

Producer Response and Strategic Importance

Chevron, operator of the Tengiz field, confirmed that loadings of its crude are continuing and emphasized personnel safety and environmental protection. The company stated the CPC pipeline is a vital export route for Kazakh oil to reach international markets, and its uninterrupted operation is essential for producers and the energy security of numerous countries.

Future Plans and Political Reaction

The CPC has long-term plans to upgrade its infrastructure. Two new SPMs are under construction in Dubai, with completion expected by year-end. These are slated to replace SPMs 1 and 2, which were installed in 2001, with deployment planned for 2026. In response to the incident, a Kremlin spokesman condemned the Ukrainian attack on the CPC facility as "outrageous" and also criticized recent naval drone attacks on oil tankers in the Black Sea.