CPC successfully replaces buoyancy tank at 1st single point mooring, ships oil from there

MOSCOW. Nov 14 (Interfax) - The Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) has completed the replacement of the buoyancy tank at the first single point mooring (SPM) and has begun shipping oil from there, CPC General Director Nikolai Gorban told reporters on Saturday.

"The replacement of the buoyancy tank at the 1st SPM at the sea terminal of our enterprise was completed in full today. All work was completed, the SPM returned to operation, and the first tanker is currently being loaded," he said.

The CPC started replacing the buoyancy tank at the first SPM on October 28. According to Gorban, this work took a long time due to adverse weather conditions.

"Our contractor [Alyans OOO] is currently moving to preparations at the 2nd SPM at the sea terminal. I believe it is quite hard to forecast the duration of work, because the weather will determine certain parameters for us here," Gorban said.

The CPC halted operations of the first and second single point moorings on August 22 due to damaged buoyancy tanks. It reported that the only operating unit at the CPC sea terminal, the third SPM, is capable of ensuring the loading of up to 3.5 million tonnes of oil a month.

The CPC oil pipeline passes through Russia and is the main export route for Kazakh oil, accounting for more than 80% of the volumes pumped through the pipeline. It has been operating without failure for more than 20 years. However, over the past year, the system has been facing consistent problems with pumping restrictions owing to various external factors, including an oil spill accident in August 2021, SPM damage during a storm in March 2022, and surveys of the marine terminal water area for the presence of explosive objects that did not affect fulfilling the CPC shipment schedule.