Kazakhstan bypasses Russia with Tengiz oil exports after Black Sea terminal attack

Kazakhstan plans to bypass Russia by exporting 100,000 metric tons of oil from its Tengiz oil field through the Georgian port of Batumi in August, according to The Moscow Times. The Tengizchevroil consortium, which operates the largest oil field in Kazakhstan, is utilizing this alternative route to circumvent disruptions at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal in Novorossiysk. The consortium had previously exported 20,000 metric tons of oil through Batumi in July following a three-month pause.

Oil extracted from Tengiz is transported via rail tank cars to the Georgian port of Batumi, where it is loaded onto tankers and then shipped across the Black Sea to Turkey. Around 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports currently flow through the CPC, primarily crude from Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak fields. Chevron owns a 50% stake in the TCO, followed by ExxonMobil at 25%, KazMunayGas at 20%, and Lukoil at 5%.

In July, Kazakhstan resumed oil shipments through the CPC system after the Black Sea terminal near Novorossiysk was shut down due to drone attacks. This disruption led to a decline in oil production in Kazakhstan. Several tankers, some carrying Kazakh oil, were targeted by drones at the CPC marine terminal on July 19. The CPC, which spans 1,500 kilometers, is Kazakhstan's primary oil export route, handling over 80% of the oil transported by pipeline from the country.