Continued Restoration of Kropotkinskaya Pumping Station following Drone Attack by CPC
Caspian Pipeline Consortium Working to Restore Operations After Drone Attack
ASTANA – The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) is currently focused on restoring operations at the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station following a recent drone attack, the company’s press service reported to Kazinform on March 24.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the air defense forces intercepted a UAV targeting the Kropotkinskaya station in Krasnodar Territory on March 24 around 2 a.m. local time. Debris from the downed drone landed near the Kavkazskaya railway station.
The Kropotkinskaya station, which is the largest oil pumping station in the CPC system, was previously hit by seven unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on February 17. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the oil transport infrastructure was significantly affected.
On March 19, several UAVs launched an attack on the Kavkazskaya oil pumping station, crucial for the transshipment process into the CPC pipeline system, enabling the export of oil at the company’s marine terminal.
Oil shippers transported approximately 130,000 tons of oil per month through the Kavkazskaya station to the CPC system, with a total volume of received crude oil reaching around 1.51 million tons in 2024.
Following the shutdown of the Kropotkinskaya station, the expected transportation volume for the year was reduced. Additionally, with the destruction of the Kavkazskaya station, it will no longer be possible to transport oil through this route in the near future.
Despite these challenges, the Kazakh Ministry of Energy has confirmed that the CPC is accepting Kazakh oil without any restrictions. The company is determined to overcome the impact of the drone attacks and restore operations to ensure the continued flow of oil through the pipeline system.
