Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Issues Statement on Black Sea Tanker Attack

Three oil tankers bound for the Caspian Pipeline Union (CPC) terminal were attacked by drones, threatening 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports and sounding alarm bells for the security of the Black Sea energy corridor.

On January 13, 2026, an attack occurred in the northern Black Sea, where three oil tankers bound for the Caspian Pipeline Union (CPC) Black Sea shipping terminal were attacked by drones. This incident drew deep concern from the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which issued a statement the following day expressing "high concern."

Following the attack, Kazakhstan quickly held emergency consultations with ambassadors from several European countries and maintained communication with the United States and other overseas partners. Kazakhstan emphasized the "importance" of ensuring the security of energy transportation, especially maritime routes, while strictly adhering to international law.

01 Crisis on the Energy Lifeline: Attack and Emergency Response

The Caspian Pipeline Union, as Kazakhstan's main oil export route, handles more than 80% of the country's oil exports. The attacked terminal is located near Novorossiysk, a Black Sea port city in Russia, and is a crucial maritime terminal for the CPC pipeline.

Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry spokesman, Yerlan Zhetbayev, stated in a statement: "The tankers involved all held the necessary permits and were equipped with compliant identification and monitoring equipment." This statement emphasizes the legality of the attacked tankers' operations and highlights the threat the attack poses to international energy infrastructure.

This is not the first time CPC facilities have been attacked. Back in late November 2025, the mooring facilities of the Caspian Pipeline Group in Novorossiysk were attacked by unmanned surface vessels, causing loading and other production operations to be suspended.

Following this attack, the Kazakh Ministry of Energy confirmed that two vessels involved in the transportation of Kazakhstan's crude oil exports were attacked near the CPC terminal.

02 Geopolitical Game: The Dilemma and Choices of a Neutral Country

Kazakhstan has maintained a neutral stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Foreign Ministry reiterated in a statement: "Kazakhstan has not participated in any armed conflict and remains committed to contributing to global and European energy security." This statement reflects Kazakhstan's balancing act in a complex geopolitical environment as a landlocked country.

Behind the attacks lies a power struggle among major nations. The Caspian Pipeline Union's shareholders include Russia, Kazakhstani companies, and US oil giants Chevron and ExxonMobil, making the attacks a sensitive issue for many.

Kazakhstani diplomats, in discussions with the US and other foreign partners, urged effective measures to ensure the security of oil and gas transport routes.

Kazakhstan faces a dilemma: on the one hand, it needs to maintain traditional economic cooperation with Russia; on the other hand, it needs to ensure that energy cooperation with Western countries is not affected. This balance is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain against the backdrop of escalating regional conflicts.

03 The Repercussions on the Global Energy Market

The attacks have already had a ripple effect on the global energy market. Bloomberg reported that due to the continued disruptions at Black Sea ports, Kazakhstan's oil exports through Black Sea ports in January could drop by as much as 45%. The CPC pipeline is responsible for transporting crude oil from Kazakhstan's three major oil fields—Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak—to the Novorossiysk terminal. The pipeline is projected to handle approximately 63 million tons of crude oil in 2024, and disruptions to its short-term transport capacity directly impact global crude oil supply.

Data shows that oil exported via the CPC pipeline accounts for over 1% of global supply. Following the attacks, Brent crude futures prices hovered around $61.45 per barrel, while WTI crude reached $58.02 per barrel.

The market reaction was relatively restrained, mainly due to the downward pressure on oil prices from anticipated oversupply next year.

The attacks also triggered the risk of increased shipping insurance costs in the Black Sea. Industry insiders pointed out that the ongoing security risks have led to a significant increase in shipping insurance premiums in the Black Sea, and some shipping companies have suspended business with Russia for security reasons.

04 The Urgent Need for Energy Export Diversification

Faced with security threats to the Black Sea energy route, Kazakhstan is accelerating its energy export diversification strategy. Kazakhstan's state-owned oil company, KazMunayGas (KMG), signed a framework agreement with Azerbaijan's state-owned oil company, SOCAR, to increase annual transport volume via the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline to 2.2 million tons in phases.

The BTC pipeline has become the most important alternative route to the CPC. Data shows that Kazakh oil shipped from Aktau port and exported via BTC reached approximately 1.1 million tons in 2023, further increasing to 1.4 million tons in 2024.

Kazakhstan is also actively developing the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor. This corridor, originating in China, passes through Kazakhstan, and leads to Europe, potentially reducing transport time to 20-25 days, lowering logistics costs, and enhancing Kazakhstan's transit transport potential.

Energy cooperation between China and Kazakhstan is also strengthening. Kazakhstan plans to increase its crude oil supply to China through the Atasu-Alashankou pipeline, an east-west pipeline aligned with Kazakhstan's energy export policy.

Rafik Tairov, Director of the Digital Security Operations Center at Kazakhstan's National Oil and Gas Security Company, pointed out: "Against the backdrop of escalating climate change, increasing sanctions pressure, and geopolitical instability, integrated infrastructure development will enhance the reliability of energy supply and solidify Kazakhstan's position as a crucial energy hub between East and West."

05 International Response and Future Outlook

The attacks have drawn widespread international attention. Turkey, as a NATO member, has consulted with the NATO Secretary General on Black Sea security and called on Russia and Ukraine to exclude energy facilities from targets.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that the forces behind the Black Sea terrorist attacks in Kyiv had previously undermined the initial Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations, and now they are attempting to escalate the situation again.

NATO Military Committee Chairman Dragun stated that NATO would consider a preemptive strike in the context of potential Russian action against NATO.

This statement triggered a strong reaction from Russia, with Zakharova responding that it was an attempt to undermine the resolution of the Ukraine crisis.

In response to the increasingly severe challenges to energy infrastructure security, Kazakhstan has called on its partners to jointly develop preventative measures and strengthen coordination to prevent similar incidents from recurring.

In the future, with the widespread adoption of drone technology, the protection of critical infrastructure will face even greater challenges. The international community may need to establish new security cooperation mechanisms to ensure the stability of the global energy supply chain.

Following the frequent attacks on the Black Sea, Kazakhstan is accelerating the diversification of its energy export routes, planning to double the BTC pipeline's transport volume to 2.2 million tons, while strengthening energy cooperation with China and the construction of the Trans-Caspian transport corridor.

This energy artery will no longer rely on a single route, but will become a complex network with multiple routes and directions.