Kazakhstan Boosts Security for Caspian Oil and Gas Sites

Kazakhstan will strengthen the protection of oil and gas facilities in the Caspian Sea.

Consensus

Kazakhstan will strengthen anti-terrorism protection for offshore oil and gas facilities in the Caspian Sea.
The owners or managers of oil and gas facilities in Kazakhstan's Caspian sector must provide a location for a maritime operational headquarters.
The headquarters must accommodate at least 10 personnel, have a helipad, and be within 23 km of offshore production facilities.
The costs of the protection will be covered by oil and gas companies, with the amount and payment terms determined through agreement with authorities.
The new rules will take effect on October 17.
The move follows disruptions to oil exports via the Caspian Pipeline Consortium in July due to drone attacks.

The changes were signed by the Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan, Erlan Akkengenov. — kommersant
In July, Kazakhstan redirected part of its oil exports to alternative routes due to disruptions in the Caspian Pipeline Consortium after drone attacks, increasing transport via Atyrau–Samara and exports to China. — kommersant
The decree was published in the context of Ukrainian attacks in the Caspian Sea, including an attack on an Iranian vessel in late July. — vedomosti
Ukraine claimed the targeted ships in the Caspian carried military cargo, and Iran labeled the incident an act of aggression, calling Kyiv's stance irrational and hostile. — vedomosti
The Russian Foreign Ministry labeled Ukraine's strike on the Iranian cargo ship in the Caspian an act of aggression and a violation of international law. — vedomosti