A key export route has been disrupted again.
On the morning of July 20, a drone struck the NELSA tanker while it was loading oil at SPM-1 of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s marine terminal. A fire broke out aboard the vessel, DKNews.kz reports.
CPC suspended oil-loading operations. According to the operator, no oil was spilled and the crude in the cargo tanks did not ignite. The incident was also reported by Reuters and Anadolu.
What Happened to the NELSA Tanker?
The drone struck the aft starboard section between the superstructure and the engine and boiler room. The resulting fire spread across the deck and into several compartments.
The tanker’s loading crews and CPC emergency teams aboard support vessels fought the blaze for several hours.
“Oil loading was suspended. No oil spill occurred, and the crude in the cargo tanks did not ignite.”
The tanker remained afloat. No critical damage to its hull has been reported.
What Is Known About the Crew?
The vessel carried an international crew of 22. CPC tugboats evacuated the seafarers.
The captain and chief officer remained aboard. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy, no injuries were reported.
The nationalities of the crew members have not been disclosed.
Loading Resumed for Only a Few Hours
The NELSA was struck shortly after the terminal resumed operations. Oil loading restarted on the evening of July 19 following earlier attacks on the ASIA and NISSOS IOS tankers.
The latest incident forced another suspension. CPC has not said when loading operations will resume.
The disruption has direct economic consequences for Kazakhstan. Most of the country’s exported crude passes through the CPC system, with Reuters estimating the route’s share at around 80%.
How Kazakhstan Responded
Kazakhstan’s foreign and energy ministries had already condemned attacks on civilian vessels carrying oil through CPC infrastructure. The authorities described such actions as a threat to the country’s economic interests and global energy security.
“We regard such attacks as an unacceptable infringement on the economic interests of the Republic of Kazakhstan.”
The Foreign Ministry demanded an immediate end to the attacks and stronger protection for export infrastructure. Kazakhstan also called on its partners to develop practical measures to prevent similar incidents.
Astana reserved the right to use mechanisms available under international law, including claims for compensation. The ministries’ positions were published in official statements reported by Kazakh media.
Who Is Responsible for the Attack?
CPC described the incident as a terrorist attack. This is the operator’s position, not a legal classification established by a court or an international investigation.
In their published statements, Kazakhstan’s authorities did not identify a country or organisation responsible for the strike on the NELSA. Until verified investigative findings become available, this article does not attribute responsibility to a specific party.
Why CPC Is Critical for Kazakhstan
The 1,511-kilometre Tengiz–Novorossiysk pipeline connects Kazakhstan’s oilfields with CPC’s marine terminal on the Black Sea.
The terminal uses single-point moorings that allow tankers to load at a considerable distance from the coast. Striking a vessel during loading created the risk of fire, an oil spill and damage to marine infrastructure.
The project has an international ownership structure. Kazakhstan holds a 19% stake through KazMunayGas, while Russia owns 24% and Chevron holds 15%.
Other shareholders include entities associated with Lukoil, Mobil, Rosneft-Shell, Eni and BG. The terminal’s shutdown therefore affects not only Kazakhstan but also foreign investors and international oil buyers.
What Happens Next?
Specialists are assessing the NELSA’s condition and the consequences of the strike. CPC has not announced when marine loading will resume.
The key issues now are the safety of civilian shipping, protection of the offshore moorings and uninterrupted exports of Kazakh crude. Every new suspension increases risks for producers, state revenues and international supply chains.
