How drone attacks on the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant affected Kazakhstan

Tengrinews.kz – Drone strikes on the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant (GPP) have impacted Kazakhstan’s hydrocarbon production volumes, Minister of Energy Yerlan Akkenzhenov said.

According to Akkenzhenov, temporary restrictions have been introduced due to reduced intake of raw hydrocarbons at the Russian facility.

“As of today, production constraints amount to between 8,500 and 9,000 tons of hydrocarbons. We expect these restrictions to be lifted within three days,” the minister stated.

He added that the suspension of Kazakh gas intake at the Orenburg GPP has had a tangible economic effect.

“Nine thousand tons means restrictions — and therefore, lost export volumes,” Akkenzhenov noted.

The minister also clarified that Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy is not responsible for diplomatic discussions regarding the drone attacks.

“This issue is handled by the relevant foreign policy agencies,” he said.

This is not the first time energy infrastructure linked to Kazakhstan has been affected. Earlier this year, Ukrainian drones targeted the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) — one of Kazakhstan’s main oil export routes connecting the Tengiz oil field to the Yuzhnaya Ozereevka terminal on the Black Sea near Novorossiysk.

The CPC system includes 15 pumping stations, a storage capacity of 1 million cubic meters, and three offshore mooring facilities, ensuring the transport of a significant share of Kazakhstan’s crude exports.