Kazakh oil output halves as drone strikes halt exports, prompting diplomatic friction
Kazakhstan has cut its daily oil production by more than half, dropping to approximately 1 million barrels per day from a June average of 2.16 million, after the Caspian Pipeline Consortium suspended operations at its Novorossiysk terminal. This disruption follows a series of drone strikes in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov that Kazakhstan attributes to Ukraine, which it describes as an unacceptable encroachment on its economic interests. While Astana has called for a freeze in hostilities, Kyiv denies responsibility for the attacks, and the situation has prompted diplomatic intervention from the United States to protect Western energy investments.
