Kazakhstan's crude export prospects rise with the end of CPC maintenance, Tengiz restart

Completion of repair work at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal and restart of crude production at the major Tengiz project could significantly impact Kazakhstan's crude production and export levels.

Exports via CPC, which ships Kazakh and Russian crude through the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, fell significantly in December and January due to drone strikes, delayed maintenance, and bad weather. CPC said Jan. 25 in a statement posted on Telegram that it has completed routine repairs at the third single-point mooring unit at its marine terminal and can now fully meet shippers' orders.

Bad weather delayed the routine repairs, which CPC had hoped to complete ahead of schedule after a drone attack damaged the second single-point mooring unit in late November.

"We emphasize that fulfilling oil shippers' orders in line with annual plans is guaranteed when at least two single-point mooring units are simultaneously in operation," CPC said.

Deliveries through the CPC, which is Kazakhstan's main export route, fell significantly in December and the first weeks of January.

Preliminary data from S&P Global Commodities at Sea indicates that exports through the route have averaged around 960,000 b/d in January, down from 1.021 million b/d in December and well below the 2025 peak of 1.743 million b/d in September, according to CAS data.

CPC said that a tanker was loaded at the third single-point mooring unit Jan. 25 after hydrotesting was carried out Jan. 21.

The routine maintenance work included replacing hoses.

"Replacing hoses on the single-point mooring unit is a routine operation to ensure the safe operation of all cargo berthing complexes at the marine terminal. Such work is consistently performed at each single point mooring at least once a year," CPC said.