Kazakhstan concerned over attacks on oil tankers – Foreign Ministry

Earlier reports said that two tankers transporting Kazakh oil were attacked in the Black Sea near the offshore terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC). Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on the incidents, stating that it is seriously concerned about the drone attacks.

According to the ministry, following the incidents, Kazakh officials held emergency meetings with ambassadors of several European countries and also contacted the United States and other foreign partners. During the discussions, the need to take effective measures to ensure the safe transportation of hydrocarbons, including via maritime routes, was emphasized.

The ministry noted that Kazakhstan does not support any armed conflicts. The country continues to make a significant contribution to strengthening global and European energy security and ensures uninterrupted supplies of energy resources. It was also stressed that the tankers involved had all the necessary permits and were equipped with the required identification systems.

The Foreign Ministry also warned that the increasing number of such incidents poses a serious threat to the operation of international energy infrastructure.

“The growing number of incidents indicates rising risks to the functioning of international energy infrastructure. We call on our partners to closely cooperate in developing joint measures to prevent such incidents in the future,” the statement said.

For reference, on January 13, two tankers transporting Kazakh oil were attacked in the Black Sea. In the first incident, the tanker Matilda, sailing under the Maltese flag, came under attack. No crew members were injured, and no damage was recorded to the underwater section or other parts of the vessel. The tanker had been chartered by a subsidiary of the national company KazMunayGas.

In addition, the tanker Delta Harmony, sailing under the Liberian flag, was also targeted in a drone attack. A fire broke out as a result of the incident but was quickly extinguished. No crew members were injured. Both vessels were empty at the time of the attacks, meaning Kazakhstan’s export resources were not affected.