Black Sea Drone Strike Paralyzes Major Oil Export Terminal

Emergency crews scrambled to extinguish the blaze at Single Point Mooring 1, preventing an oil spill and keeping the vessel afloat. Despite the rapid response, the consortium has provided no timeline for restarting operations. The Sunday attack had already triggered a brief suspension, but this second hit suggests a more persistent vulnerability for the terminal near Novorossiysk.

Kazakhstan’s energy and foreign ministries condemned the incidents as acts of terrorism aimed at the country’s economic interests. Major stakeholders, including Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Shell, remain largely silent as they assess the damage to the 1,511-kilometer pipeline system. This route carries roughly 1% of the global oil supply, primarily fueling exports from Kazakhstan’s massive Tengiz, Kashagan, and Karachaganak fields. With shipments currently paralyzed, international markets face renewed uncertainty regarding these vital Caspian energy flows.