Kazakh oil output down 35% January 1–12, source says

MOSCOW/ATHENS/LONDON (Reuters) - Drones struck two oil tankers in the Black Sea on Tuesday, including one chartered by U.S. oil major Chevron (CVX.N), opens new tab, the companies involved said, as they sailed toward a terminal on the Russian coast. Both were en route to the Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal, a loading point for around 80% of Kazakh oil destined for international markets as well as some Russian crude, according to eight sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

All crew are safe, and the vessel remains stable.

"All crew are safe, and the vessel remains stable. It is proceeding to a safe port, and we are coordinating with the ship operator and relevant authorities," Chevron said of its chartered tanker .Kazakhstan has stated that only one berth is currently operational, which is insufficient for normal exports after a drone already hit one of the CPC berths, which weakened the operation of the entire hub last In November,

Attacks on CPC tankers a risk to the global oil market

Attacks on CPC tankers and berths pose a risk to the global oil market,.The Delta Harmony tanker was to load oil from the Tengiz field, and the Matilda was to load oil from Karachaganak. The CPC terminal handles about 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports to world markets via the Black Sea. Due to restrictions on the terminal’s operations, production in Kazakhstan fell by 35% between January 1 and 12.

Related : Ukraine claims responsibility for attack targeting two Russian oil tankers off the coast of Türkiy

The Energy Ministry of Kazakhstan issued a statement acknowledging attacks on two vessels, the Matilda (IMO 9407457, MMSI 249747000 - sailing under the flag of Malta. )  operating under charter to the national company KazMunayGas, and Delta Tankers’ Delta Harmony (IMO 9408463, MMSI 636023133 -sailing under the flag of Liberia. ) Media reports said other tankers were also targeted, including another Greek-owned tanker named Freud, but those reports were not confirmed.

Kazakhstan's output cratered in early January 

The attacks come as Kazakhstan's output cratered in early January with the U.S. oil majors that dominate its oil sector struggling to pipe crude via Russia due to winter storms and infrastructure damage caused by an earlier Ukrainian drone attack. Kyiv has been targeting Russian energy infrastructure to pressure Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. It was not immediately clear, however, who was behind Tuesday's tanker strikes. Ukraine's government did not comment on the attacks. The Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which operates the terminal where the tankers were due to take on board cargoes, declined to comment.

Related : Turkish car ferry damaged in strike at Ukrainian port

War insurance costs for ships sailing to the Black Sea

War insurance costs for ships sailing to the Black Sea nearly doubled on Tuesday following the attacks, five industry sources said. Russian terminals on the Black Sea handle more than 2% of global crude. Its waters, which are shared by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Turkey, as well as Russia and Ukraine, are also crucial for the shipment of grain. One of the tankers attacked on Tuesday, the Delta Harmony, is managed by Greece's Delta Tankers, LSEG data showed. According to the sources, it was expected to load Kazakh-produced oil from Tengizchevroil, a unit of U.S. oil major Chevron.

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#Drones # Delta Harmony #Greece's Delta Tankers #Yuzhnaya Ozereyevka terminal #two tankers  #Black Sea # Matilda #Freud #Chevron # Kazakh oil