Sixteen years ago - on March 26, 2001 - CPC started filling in its pipeline system with crude oil.
That day in Atyrau Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan Prime Minister, representatives of Russia and Kazakhstan Ministries and Departments, Administration Heads of the Regions crossed by the crude pipeline and representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, Oil Producing Companies - CPC Shareholders, and Consortium’s Management took part in the ceremony dedicated to the event.
Opening the valve Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan Prime Minister, said: “We are justifiably proud of our involvement in the implementation of the project which will serve the interests of international cooperation, strengthening of peace and stability in the Caspian Region.”
Together with the first crude oil a special device for pipe cleaning was launched in the pipeline with a capsule which contained a memorable message about the commencement of filling in the trunk pipeline with black gold. The message was signed by all CPC Shareholders.
It should be noted that the first oil which entered the Consortium’s pipeline system came from Tengiz field. In early summer of that year the crude hydrocarbons crossed the border of Russia. Just prior to that CPC received all necessary approvals from the RF State Customs Committee permitting Kazakh oil transportation through the territory of the Russian Federation.
Today in Kazakhstan alone crude oil from eight fields enters CPC crude pipeline at Tengiz PS and Atyrau PS. Two facilities receive Russian crude oil: Komsomolskaya PS in Kalmykia and Kropotkin PS in Krasnodar Krai.
Marine Terminal of the Consortium functions steadily. Since commencement of CPC operations, as of 27 March 2017, 4515 oil tankers have been loaded with almost 480 million tons of crude for export. This year to date shipment indicators have reached 122 tankers and 12.4 million tons.
FYI:
The CPC pipeline system is one of the largest investment projects with foreign capital in the energy sector in the CIS. The length of the pipeline connecting oil fields in Western Kazakhstan with the Marine Terminal in Novorossiysk is 1,511 km. CPC’s Marine Terminal is equipped with Single Point Moorings that allow to load tankers safely at a significant distance offshore, including bad weather conditions.
CPC Shareholders: Russian Federation (represented by Transneft – 24% and CPC Company – 7%) – 31%; Republic of Kazakhstan (represented by KazMunayGaz – 19% and Kazakhstan Pipeline Ventures LLC – 1.75%) – 20.75%; Chevron Caspian Pipeline Consortium Company - 15%, LUKARCO B.V. - 12.5%, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company – 7.5%, Rosneft-Shell Caspian Ventures Limited – 7.5%, BG Overseas Holding Limited - 2%, Eni International N.A. N.V. - 2% and Oryx Caspian Pipeline LLC – 1.75%.