ASTANA, March 7. /TASS/. Astana is conducting consultations with Kiev through diplomatic channels following a drone attack by Ukraine’s armed groups on a pump station of Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), Vice Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan, Alibek Zhamauov, said, adding that the ministry had not received information on any claims to any of the sides, and that the consortium is carrying out repair independently.

"According to information provided by CPC itself, the loss is being calculated, the consortium is currently carrying out reconstruction and repair of the station at its own expense now. We don’t have any information on any claims to the sides, and our services are conducing talks with the Ukrainian side through diplomatic channels," he told a news conference.

The Kazakh authorities plan to cut the volume of oil pumping through the CPC infrastructure this month, the official added.

The republic intends to optimize oil production in March in a move to fulfill its OPEC+ obligations, he noted.

On February 17, Kropotkin Pump Station (PS) of Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) in South Russia, which is the largest CPC pump station on Russian territory, was attacked by an UAV, after which it was pulled out of service. There were no injuries to the pump station’s personnel. By rapid aligned response the consortium’s workers were able to prevent the threat of an oil spill. The pump station took serious damage, and it will require extensive repair work. The effects of the attack are expected to take 1.5 to 2 months to repair, potentially leading to a decline in oil pumping volumes from Kazakhstan by about 30%. Oil is temporarily being rerouted to the Tengiz-Novorossiysk oil pipeline via an emergency loop that bypasses the station. All shareholders of the international consortium, including representatives of companies from the US and Europe, have been notified of the terrorist attack on a civilian target by UAV and its outcome by CPC.

CPC is the pipeline system connecting Kazakhstan with a seaport in Novorossiysk area, where tankers are loaded with oil for the supply to global markets. The 1,511 km long pipeline links oilfields in the West Kazakhstan with the marine terminal in Novorossiysk. Among CPC shareholders are Russia (via Transneft), Kazakhstan (via KazMunayGas), structures of Chevron, Lukoil, ExxonMobil, a joint venture of Rosneft and Shell.