CPC to Challenge Black Sea Mooring Halt in Court — Reuters

The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) is preparing to challenge in court a temporary suspension imposed by regulators on the operation of two out of three single-point moorings (SPM) at its Black Sea terminal, Orda.kz reports, citing Reuters.

According to sources familiar with the matter, a hearing on the administrative case may occur in the coming days. Neither CPC nor Rostransnadzor responded to Reuters' request for comment.

The affected moorings are critical components of CPC’s operations, allowing tankers to be loaded safely offshore. Supervisory authorities identified safety violations and ordered a suspension of activity at the two facilities until the issues are resolved.

The pipeline, which transports Kazakhstan's oil, is a major artery in global energy flows. As Reuters notes, traders estimate that the CPC pipeline — handling around 1% of the world's oil supply — could lose up to 50% of its export capacity if only one mooring remains in service.

CPC remains Kazakhstan’s main export route, carrying roughly 80% of the country’s oil. Oil is loaded onto tankers for global delivery at the Novorossiysk terminal, where the two moorings are currently offline.

In 2023, Kazakhstan exported 55 million tons of crude via CPC, out of a total of 71 million tons.

Original Author: Oksana Matvienko