(MENAFN) Operations at a major oil hub on Russia’s Black Sea coast, which handles roughly 80% of Kazakhstan’s crude exports, have been halted after a mooring at its terminal near Novorossiysk sustained serious damage in an attack, according to the terminal’s operator, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).

There has been no immediate verification of the party responsible, though the strike follows a series of drone attacks on energy infrastructure in Russia reportedly linked to Ukraine. Previous incidents include a September drone strike on Novorossiysk port that damaged CPC offices and a February attack on the consortium’s Kropotkinskaya pumping station. Reports also indicate that two Russian oil tankers in the Black Sea were recently targeted by naval drones.

“As a result of a targeted terrorist attack using unmanned boats at 4:06 a.m. Moscow time, Single Mooring Point 2 (SMP-2) sustained significant damage,” the CPC said on its website. “At the time of the explosion, the facility’s emergency protection systems successfully shut off the relevant pipelines. Preliminary reports indicate no oil has leaked into the Black Sea, and there are no injuries among staff.”
“Further operation of Mooring Point 2 is not possible,” the statement added.

The consortium, owned by a mix of Russian, Kazakh, U.S., and Western European energy companies, characterized the incident as an attack on infrastructure supporting multiple countries’ interests. “No sanctions or restrictions have ever been imposed on the CPC, reflecting the company’s recognized role in safeguarding the interests of its Western shareholders,” the group said.

In response to the disruption, Kazakhstan has activated an emergency plan to redirect crude through alternate pipelines.

The CPC described this event as the third act of aggression against a civilian facility protected under international law. Security officials in Russia have warned that additional strikes on internationally-owned energy assets may be imminent.

Founded in 1992, the consortium was tasked with constructing and operating the 1,500km Caspian Pipeline, linking western Kazakhstan’s oil fields to Novorossiysk. The pipeline remains a critical route for Kazakh crude, transporting about 63 million tonnes last year, roughly three-quarters of it for foreign clients.

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