Four industry sources said that oil from Kazakhstan's massive Kashagan field has been diverted to the domestic market, for the first-time due to bottlenecks in the Black Sea terminal which handles the bulk the country's crude imports.

After drone attacks at the Russian Black Sea Terminal damaged equipment, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), who handles about 80% Kazakhstan's oil imports, reduced volumes.

Kazmunaygas, a state-owned company, said that Kazakhstan diverted 300,000 metric tonnes of oil from the CPC in December.

Several volumes were also shipped to China via the Atasu Alashankou pipeline.

Sources said that Kashagan crude oil was delivered to Kazakhstan's Shymkent refinery for first time without specifying volumes.

Kazmunaygas, Kaztransoil, the Kashagan operating Company, and Kazakhstan's Energy Ministry did not respond immediately to requests for comments.

Sources said that total crude oil supplies to Shymkent in January will be 542,000 tonnes.

Kashagan is a massive?offshore oil field discovered in 2000 in the northern Caspian Sea. It was also one of the most expensive to develop. Production started in 2013.

In 2024, the field will produce around 378.500 barrels per day, which is below its initial capacity forecast of 400,000 barrels per day. The development plans aim to increase production capacity to 450,000 barrels per day.

Kashagan is operated under the North Caspian Operating Company. This company includes Eni (16.81% of the shares), Shell (16.81%) TotalEnergies (16.81%) ExxonMobil (also 16.81%) Kazmunaygas (8.33%) and China National Petroleum Corp. Reporting by. (Editing by Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Potter and Mark Faulconbridge)

(source: Reuters)