Russia’s Black Sea port of Taman is preparing to suspend exports of highly explosive liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) due to concerns about drone attacks.
Russia has come under repeated attacks in recent weeks and has suffered major cross-border incursions and drone attacks on areas including Moscow, oil refineries in the south of the country and a fuel depot near a strategic bridge linking the Russian mainland with Crimea.
Russia says Ukraine is behind the attacks, including those on the Kremlin last month, while Kyiv denies any involvement in the attacks.
Railway operators in Russia and Kazakhstan have already announced plans to restrict cargo shipments to the port of Taman, from which about 7.5% of all Russian liquefied petroleum gas exported.
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, that Taman would suspend shipments of liquefied petroleum gas, also known as propane and butane, due to its explosive nature.
After all these drones’ attacks, Taman will suspend the shipment of LPG because it is dangerous, the gas is highly explosive,” Russian official said.
The Russian official didn’t specify when the port would stop shipping gas, and said existing stocks would be shipped first.
Gas shipping operations at the Taman Shipping Complex, which has a capacity of 20 million tons of cargo annually, would be suspended indefinitely.
The complex is currently working on shipping liquefied gas stocks in the port.
Sources indicated that there would be a study to take other paths to export liquefied gas from Russia, including Poland and China.
