Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yermek Kosherbayev, discussed the situation regarding the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) during a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
It is reported that the parties also discussed current issues on the bilateral agenda within the framework of the enhanced strategic partnership, as well as preparations for the upcoming visit by the President of Kazakhstan to the US to attend the G20 summit.
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium is a major international oil transport project involving Russia, Kazakhstan and leading global energy companies. The system comprises a pipeline approximately 1,500 kilometres long, through which oil is transported mainly from the Kazakh fields of Tengiz, Karachaganak and Kashagan, as well as from Russian producers.
Around 80 per cent of Kazakhstan’s oil exports are transported via the CPC system.
On 20 July 2026, whilst oil was being loaded at the CPC’s VPU-1 offshore loading facility, the tanker NELSA was attacked by a drone. The drone struck the vessel’s starboard side, causing a fire in the stern. The incident occurred shortly after the CPC terminal resumed operations following another drone attack on 19 July, which damaged the civilian tankers ASIA and NISSOS IOS whilst they were being loaded with oil.
On 23 July, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy reported that loading operations at the CPC maritime terminal had been temporarily suspended to ensure the safety of vessels, crews and the environment in the Black Sea.
