Novorossiysk, Russia – In a significant blow to Kazakh energy exports in Russia, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which operates a major crude oil hub at the port city of Novorossiysk on Russia’s Black Sea coast, announced on Saturday that operations have been suspended. The facility handles approximately 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports.

The suspension was triggered by substantial damage to Single Mooring Point 2 (SMP-2), a critical part of the terminal infrastructure. CPC officials stated in a statement released early morning Saturday via their website: “At around 4:06 a.m. Moscow time, targeted terrorist activity using unmanned boats inflicted considerable harm upon our marine loading facilities.”

While immediate confirmation of responsibility for the attack was not available from authorities, preliminary assessments by the consortium indicate that emergency protection systems shut down relevant pipelines promptly after the incident. According to initial reports cited by the operator, no crude oil has leaked into the Black Sea and there were no injuries among CPC staff.

This marks what officials are describing as the third act of aggression against civilian infrastructure safeguarded under international law since early 2023. Previous unconfirmed incidents include damages sustained at a CPC office in Novorossiysk port terminal earlier this year, alongside attacks on other key energy installations operated by the consortium or its partners.

The CPC operates an extensive network spanning over 1500 kilometers from Kazakh oil fields through marine terminals in Novorossiysk. The organization’s shareholders include major corporations representing Russia, Kazakhstan, and several Western nations including the United States and Europe.

In response to Sunday’s incident, Kazakhstan has initiated emergency rerouting procedures for its crude shipments via alternative pipeline routes following what it terms disruption to standard export channels.

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), in a statement last year, issued warnings about potential further attacks against key energy infrastructure with international legal protections.