Karachaganak, a Kazakh gas producer, reduces output after a drone strikes a Russian gas plant
The operator of Kazakhstan's Karachaganak Oil and Gas Condensate Field said in an email on Tuesday that production levels have been reduced following "an accident" at Russia's Orenburg Plant.
Two industry sources said that on Monday, a Ukrainian drone strike against the Orenburg Gas Processing Plant, one of the largest in the world, forced Kazakhstan to reduce its production at the Karachaganak Field by 25 to 30 percent.
Ukraine has intensified its strikes against Russia's energy infrastructure in recent months. It confirmed that it had hit a gas station in the Orenburg area, located 1,700 km (1 060 miles) east from the Russian border.
According to two anonymous sources, the output at Karachaganak was between 25,000 and 28,000. This is down from its usual 35,000 to 35,500 tons.
Karachaganak's production was also reduced, according to the Kazakhstani energy ministry. Both the ministry and operator did not disclose production data.
As soon as Orenburg resumes operations, the ministry expects production to return to normal at Karachaganak.
Karachaganak's operation is carried out by a consortium that includes U.S. energy giant Chevron (18%), and European energy companies Shell (29.25%), and Eni (30.25%).
KazMunayGaz (10) and Lukoil (13.5%), both Russian companies, also have stakes. Reporting and writing by Lidia Kelly and Vladimir Soldatkin in Melbourne; editing by Jacqueline Wong, Lincoln Feast and Jacqueline Wong.
(source: Reuters)
