Kazakhstan plans to supply 50,000 metric tons of crude to China directly from the vast Kashagan field in December for the first time after a Ukrainian drone damaged the Black Sea terminal of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), two sources told Reuters.

Kashagan usually exports most of its oil via CPC to the terminal at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk for further transportation.

"The incident at CPC's marine terminal did not lead to a complete halt in exports... The ministry, together with producers, is working to redistribute volumes and intensify the use of alternative routes," it said in a written response.