No Limits on Oil Exports via Caspian Pipeline, According to Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan's Kropotkinskaya Oil Pumping Station Restarts Operations Following Repairs
Astana, May 23, 2025 - The Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station, a vital component of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), has resumed operations following extensive repairs initiated after a drone attack on February 17, 2025. Despite the unprecedented attack involving several drones armed with explosives and metal-damaging agents, no casualties occurred, and the risk of an oil spill was successfully circumvented.
The attack on the Kropotkinskaya station, the largest in the CPC system, was severity-check for the energy sector. A collaborative effort between CPC workers and repair teams from various departments managed to fix the transformers, gas turbine unit with generators, switchgear, cable racks, and control cabinets primarily using Russian equipment and materials.
This resumption is likely to bolster Kazakhstan's oil exports, as the CPC pipeline handles approximately 80% of the country's oil exports. The temporary bypassing of the damaged station during the attack did not significantly impact export volumes, but restoring the station will guarantee smoother and more stable oil transport operations.
The incident has sparked concern about energy security and potential future attacks on critical infrastructure, leading to the opening of a criminal case in Russia with an ongoing investigation. The geopolitical implications of the attack, which was reportedly conducted by Ukrainian drones, could impact regional stability and energy security. However, Kazakhstan has maintained a neutral stance on the matter.
First unveiled in the late 1990s, the CPC remains one of the largest energy projects in the CIS. The Tengiz-Novorossiysk pipeline stretches 1,511 kilometers and transports over two-thirds of Kazakhstan's oil exports, as well as crude from Russian fields, including those in the Caspian Sea.
- The incident at Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station, a key component of the CPC, raises questions about the security of the oil-and-gas industry and critical infrastructure in general-news.
- Fast-tracked repairs on the Kropotkinskaya station, involving multiple departments and using Russian equipment, will not only help stabilize Kazakhstan's oil exports in finance but also contribute to the overall stability of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) business.
- With tensions escalating between nations and the potential for future incidents in the political landscape, it's essential for the energy sector to focus on improving its security and resilience to protect oil-and-gas assets from undesired attacks.
