29 march
The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) reported on the timing of repair work and further maintenance of the marine terminal.
Recall that on March 22, the consortium suspended oil loading at the terminal due to identified and possible damage to the outrigger berthing devices (VPU) due to adverse weather conditions.
Subsequently, weather conditions in the water area of the marine terminal made it possible to conduct a survey of the VPU-1 equipment complex. The berthing device is recognized as serviceable and suitable for oil transshipment. Currently, loading via VPU-1 is carried out in normal mode.
Now, according to the information CPC press services, "repair work on VPU-2 and VPU-3 will approximately last at least 3-4 weeks."
"An operational emergency reserve of the most important equipment is being formed promptly. However, the situation with the further supply of spare parts and equipment necessary for sustainable operation remains uncertain. It should be noted that the main foreign suppliers of components – Imodco, Blue Water and Gall Thomson Environmental Ltd. – have already announced the refusal of further cooperation to CPC-R JSC and canceled all previously planned deliveries, despite the advance payment from CPC in full in December 2021. The Board of Directors discussed this emergency situation and outlined priority measures for its localization," the CPC said in a statement.
Note that VPU-2 and VPU-3 remain decommissioned. Oil from shippers is accepted into the pipeline system at minimum pumping modes.
Photo: RIA Novosti
For reference:
CPC is a major international oil transportation project with the participation of Russia, Kazakhstan and the world's leading mining companies, implemented for the construction and operation of a trunk pipeline with a length of more than 1.5 thousand km. The system receives raw materials mainly from large deposits in Western Kazakhstan, as well as from Russian producers, then it is transshipped at a port near Novorossiysk. Kazakh shippers account for about 80% of the volume of transportation. The capacity of the pipeline is 67 million tons of oil per year, and after the implementation of the bottleneck elimination program, calculated by the end of 2023, the pipeline will be able to receive up to 83 million tons annually.