MOSCOW, Sept 12 (Reuters) – A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s northwestern port of Primorsk has for the first time forced the suspension of loadings at its key western oil terminal, according to two industry sources and Ukraine’s military.
Ukraine’s SBU security agency said it had hit the Primorsk port with drones overnight, leading to a fire and the suspension of loading operations.
Oil loadings from Primorsk were suspended early on Friday, two industry sources familiar with oil loadings from the port said.
Two oil tankers, Kusto and Cai Yun, were hit by the attack, according to the industry sources.
Russian oil exports are already limited as Ust-Luga port has yet to restore its capacity in full after a drone attack in August.
MOSCOW, Sept. 12 (Reuters) – According to two industry sources and Ukraine’s military, loadings at Russia’s main western oil terminal have been suspended for the first time due to a Ukrainian drone attack on the northwest port of Primorsk.
Primorsk is the biggest port in western Russia and a major export hub for Russian oil, with the ability to load approximately 1 million barrels of crude per day (bpd). In addition to roughly 300,000 barrels of diesel per day, the port loads a flagship Russian Urals oil grade.
According to industry sources, two vessels were set on fire by the drone strike, which was the first such attack on the port to be reported.
As it pushes for negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, Kyiv has increased its drone attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in an effort to limit export capabilities and cut off Russia’s primary revenue stream, the sale of crude oil.
The Primorsk port was hit by drones overnight, according to Ukraine’s SBU security agency, which caused a fire and halted loading operations.
Primorsk oil loadings were halted early Friday, according to two industry sources who are familiar with the port’s oil loadings. Whether operations had resumed at the time of writing was unclear.
While acknowledging that a drone attack had destroyed a pumping station and one vessel, Alexander Drozdenko, the Russian governor of the area surrounding the port, did not state that operations had been suspended.
Later, Drozdenko declared that there was no chance of an oil spill and that the fire had been put out. He claimed that more than 30 drones were destroyed over the area.
Russia’s Energy Ministry and the port’s operator, Transneft pipeline, declined to comment.
Despite pressure from oversupply concerns and a weaker U.S. economy, oil prices increased by almost 2 percent after the attack on Primorsk suspended loadings. A. demand hazards.
WHERE WERE THE TANKERS HIT?
According to industry sources, the attack targeted two oil tankers, Kusto and Cai Yun. LSEG reports that Solstice Corp. owns and operates Kusto, an Aframax tanker with a capacity of roughly 700,000 barrels. Acceronix Ltd. is the owner and manager of the Aframax Cai Yun. Both are listed in Seychelles, according to open databases.
Over the past few months, Ukraine has targeted other Russian ports, such as the Black Sea’s Novorossiisk and the nearby Ust-Luga.
Due to the fact that Ust-Luga port has not yet fully recovered from a drone attack in August, Russian oil exports are already restricted. This month, the port is filling up to half capacity.
Drone strikes on domestic refineries have decreased local demand for crude, so Russia has increased its September crude export plan from western ports to 21.1 million barrels per day (bpd), an 11% increase from the original plan.
Near St. is Primorsk. Pulkovo Airport temporarily halted operations in Petersburg. Overnight, the Russian military reported intercepting 221 Ukrainian drones. The General Staff of Ukraine did not immediately comment on the Russian report.
In 2001, a year after taking office, Vladimir Putin attended the port of Primorsk’s opening ceremony as Russia was lowering its reliance on other Baltic ports.
Moscow-based reporters covered the story; Lucy Papachristou wrote it; Philippa Fletcher and Gareth Jones edited it.
