BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 30. Kazakhstan’s Energy
Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov and US Ambassador to Kazakhstan Julie
Stufft discussed regional energy security, the country's Ministry
of Energy reports.


"During the meeting, the sides reviewed a wide range of issues
related to bilateral cooperation in the energy sector and
reaffirmed their mutual interest in further strengthening the
strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the United States",
the ministry said.


Particular attention was paid to ensuring regional energy
security, maintaining the reliable operation of export
infrastructure, and securing stable energy supplies to global
markets.


The parties confirmed their readiness to continue dialogue
within the framework of the Kazakhstan-US Strategic Energy
Partnership, aimed at expanding mutually beneficial cooperation,
attracting investment, and implementing joint initiatives in the
energy sector.


The discussions came amid recent attacks at the Caspian Pipeline
Consortium (CPC). On July 20, 2026, while the tanker NELSA was
loading crude oil at the CPC's SPM-1 single-point mooring facility
(VPU-1), a drone struck the vessel's starboard side, causing a fire
in its aft section. The incident occurred shortly after the CPC
terminal resumed operations following another drone attack on July
19, which affected the civilian tankers ASIA and NISSOS IOS while
they were loading crude oil. On July 23, the ministry announced
that loading operations at CPC marine terminal were temporarily
suspended to ensure the safety of vessels, crews, and the
environment in the Black Sea.







On July 30, 2026, at 01:48 Moscow time, the NISSOS SIFNOS
tanker, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag and carrying crude
oil shipped by Tengizchevroil, came under a terrorist attack while
loading oil at the CPC Marine Terminal’s Single Point Mooring No. 3
(SPM-3).


According to CPC, another tanker, the MARATHI, sailing under the
Isle of Man flag and heading to the CPC Marine Terminal to receive
crude oil, was also attacked in territorial waters approximately
six nautical miles from the terminal.


Yesterday, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held
a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during
which the sides discussed bilateral cooperation within the expanded
strategic partnership, preparations for President Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev’s upcoming visit to the United States for the G20 Summit,
as well as the situation surrounding CPC operations.


The CPC is a major international oil transportation project
involving Kazakhstan, Russia, and leading global energy companies.
Its 1,500-kilometer pipeline transports crude oil primarily from
Kazakhstan’s Tengiz, Karachaganak, and Kashagan fields, with around
80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports shipped through the CPC system.