Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev held a telephone conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussing bilateral issues within the framework of the expanded strategic partnership, including the situation surrounding the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC).
The two sides also discussed preparations for President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s upcoming visit to the U.S. for the G20 summit.
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not disclosed any further details of the conversation.
Why the U.S. is interested in the CPC
The CPC remains the primary export route for Kazakhstan’s oil, accounting for approximately 80% of the country’s total oil exports.
Furthermore, major American companies, including Chevron and ExxonMobil, are involved in producing the oil transported through the pipeline.
Chevron is the largest foreign investor in the Tengiz project and owns a 50% stake in Tengizchevroil, while ExxonMobil is also a shareholder. Both companies are also involved in developing the Kashagan field. Therefore, any disruptions to CPC operations directly affect oil supplies, production volumes and the revenue of American companies.
Context
The CPC has recently become the target of numerous attacks. In February 2025, seven drones struck the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station, reducing the pipeline’s capacity by 30% to 40%.
In the fall, one of the marine terminal’s moorings was damaged. A new wave of attacks occurred in July 2026, damaging the tankers Nordic Zenith, ASIA, NISSOS IOS and NELSA, which were carrying Kazakh oil. This forced the CPC to temporarily suspend oil loading and unloading operations.
According to the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the CPC is doing its best to resume Kazakh oil exports as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, National Bank Chairman Timur Suleimenov said that the regulator does not expect sharp fluctuations in the tenge exchange rate as a result of the temporary suspension of oil exports via the CPC. However, the National Bank is prepared to take action if non-market fluctuations are observed.
