Kazakhstan says it will divert some oil from Kashagan field to China after Ukrainian attack

ASTANA, Dec 10 (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's energy ministry said on Wednesday it would redirect some oil from the giant Kashagan oil field to China after a Ukrainian drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's Black Sea terminal, at the Russian port of Novorossiysk.

The decision was made public after two sources told Reuters earlier this week that Kazakhstan plans to supply 50,000 metric tons of crude to China in December from Kashagan for the first time after the Ukrainian attack damaged the CPC terminal last month.

The CPC, which accounts for 1% of global crude supply and includes Russian, Kazakh and U.S. shareholders, has had to reduce exports because a key part of its loading infrastructure - a single-point mooring (SPM) - was damaged in the attack.

Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian energy infrastructure since August in an effort to hurt funding for Russia's army, but its decision to strike CPC facilities has been condemned by Kazakhstan and the Kremlin given its international significance and international participation.

Most oil from Kashagan is usually exported via the CPC to the damaged terminal at Novorossiysk for onwards shipment.

The Kazakh energy ministry said the Ukrainian attack on the CPC marine terminal did not lead to a complete halt in exports.

"Currently, the Ministry, together with shippers, is carrying out urgent work to redistribute oil volumes," it said.

"Measures have also been taken to redirect a certain volume of Kashagan oil to China."

According to industry sources, the crude will be exported from the Kashagan field to China, the world's biggest importer, via the Atasu-Alashankou pipeline. The oil is produced at Kashagan by the NCOC consortium, which includes China's CNPC and Japan's Inpex 1605.T.

The Atasu-Alashankou pipeline runs from Kazakhstan to the Xinjiang region of China but usually carries oil from other fields in Kazakhstan.

Russia's largest oil producer Rosneft ROSN.MM, which is under U.S. sanctions, supplies around 10 million tons of oil, or 200,000 barrels per day, via the route.

The offshore Kashagan field, one of the world's biggest discoveries in recent decades, is being developed by Eni ENI.MI, Shell SHEL.L, TotalEnergies TTEF.PA, ExxonMobil XOM.N, KazMunayGaz KMGZ.KZ, Inpex 1605.T and CNPC CNPC.UL.