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Ukraine drones hit Russia's Orenburg gas processing plant

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Gas from Karachaganak is being processed at the Orenburg

plant

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Shell, Eni, Chevron ( CVX ) are among Karachaganak stakeholders

(Adds quote, background)

By Mariya Gordeyeva

ALMATY, Oct 21 (Reuters) -

Kazakhstan's Karachaganak oil and gas condensate field has

cut production volumes following "an incident" at Russia's

Orenburg plant, the operator of the field told Reuters in an

emailed statement on Tuesday.

On Monday, two industry sources told Reuters that a

Ukrainian drone attack on the Orenburg gas processing plant, one

of the world's largest, forced neighbouring Kazakhstan to reduce

production at the Karachaganak field by 25% to 30%.

Ukraine, which has stepped up strikes on Russia's energy

facilities in recent months, confirmed it hit a gas plant in the

Orenburg region, some 1,700 km (1,060 miles) east of the Russian

border with Ukraine, and an oil refinery in the Samara region.

Output at Karachaganak on Monday was down to between 25,000

metric tons (196,500 barrels per day) and 28,000 tons from the

usual level of 35,000-35,500 tons, according to two sources who

spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the

situation.

Kazakhstan's energy ministry also said on Monday that

Karachaganak trimmed production. The ministry and the operator

did not provide production data.

The ministry said production at Karachaganak was

expected to return to normal once operations at the Orenburg

plant resume, with gas reception at the facility anticipated

soon.

Karachaganak is operated by a consortium which includes U.S.

major Chevron ( CVX ) (18%) and European energy firms Shell

(29.25%) and Eni (29.25%).

Russia's Lukoil (13.5%) and local firm KazMunayGaz

(10%) also hold stakes.

(Reporting by Mariya Gordeyeva in Almaty; Writing by Lidia

Kelly in Melbourne and Vladimir Soldatkin; Editing by Jacqueline

Wong and Lincoln Feast.)