Russia has suspended operations at a vital oil-loading dock in the Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, further tightening control over its energy exports amid mounting international tensions.
The move comes just one day after authorities also imposed limits on a major pipeline terminal on the Caspian Sea.
The docking restrictions, announced by Russia’s state-run pipeline monopoly Transneft, affect berth 8 at Novorossiisk’s Sheskharis terminal.
According to Digi24, the shutdown will last for 90 days, with port operators ordered to resolve compliance issues by June 30.
Strategic Pressure Amid Trade and Security Tensions
The decision adds strain to already fragile energy flows, particularly after the recent closure of two out of three mooring points at the nearby Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal — a key artery for oil from Kazakhstan in which Chevron and ExxonMobil hold significant stakes.
Russia’s latest move appears partially tied to ongoing geopolitical friction. President Donald Trump has threatened to levy “secondary tariffs” on buyers of Russian oil in protest over slow peace negotiations with Moscow concerning Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, however, attributed the CPC restrictions to recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.
Industry sources told Reuters that berth 8 is mainly used for exporting low-sulfur diesel to Turkey and Georgia via smaller tankers carrying up to 10,000 tons.
Between January and March this year, the dock handled approximately 100,000 tons of diesel. Despite its limited scale compared to Novorossiisk’s broader capacity, the closure represents another pressure point in global energy supply lines.
Wider Impact on Energy Infrastructure
Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter, pumps around 9 million barrels of crude daily — nearly 10% of global production. Novorossiisk is one of its largest export hubs and also serves as a conduit for Kazakh oil.
Meanwhile, the CPC pipeline — set to ship 1.7 million barrels per day in April — remains partially operational, with Kazakhstan and Chevron reporting no major disruptions for now. However, traders are awaiting updated loading schedules.
Ukraine has also reported new Russian attacks on its power grid, with drone strikes damaging substations and cutting electricity to thousands in the Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
The series of energy infrastructure hits and export slowdowns reflect a growing interlink between military actions, economic policy, and energy logistics — a dynamic that continues to disrupt regional stability and global supply chains.
