Kazakhstan's Gas Production Drops After Drone Attack in Russia

Ukrainian drones hit Russia's gas processing plant in Orenburg, near the border with Kazakhstan on October 19, forcing a halt in natural gas intake.

Kazakhstan's government said on October 20 that due to the attack, the Orenburg facility had to stop processing gas from the Karachaganak field in northern Kazakhstan. Yet, the ministry of energy assured that domestic gas supplies would not be affected.

Gas produced at the Karachaganak field is sent for processing to Orenburg and then imported into Kazakhstan again at a low price, under a long-term agreement with Russia.

On October 20, sources told Reuters that Karachaganak Petroleum Operating, the company that exploits the field, had to order a 25% cut in production, due to ongoing repairs in Orenburg. The sources also said that gas supplies could resume as soon as October 21.

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