Norwegian company refuses to refuel US ships because it 'has moral compass'
Norwegian company Haltbakk Bunkers stops refueling US Navy ships (Illustrative photo: facebook.com/haltbakkbunkers)
The large Norwegian company Haltbakk Bunkers, which specializes in the production of marine fuel, has announced its decision to halt refueling US military vessels. This move is a response to the recent dispute between the US and Ukrainian presidents, according to the Norwegian edition Kystens Næringsliv.
According to the owner of Haltbakk Bunkers, Gunnar Gran, not a single liter will be delivered until (US President Donald) Trump is finished.
Earlier, a post was published on the Haltbakk Bunkers social media account, announcing a boycott of refueling US Navy vessels.
The post by the Norwegian oil supplier was written in English, specifically to inform an international audience. This post from the company's sole owner, Gran, was directed at the sitting US President and his Vice President JD Vance, as well as their meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on February 28 at the White House.
In the post, Haltbakk Bunkers stated that "We have today been witnesses to the biggest shitshow ever presented "live on tv" by the current American president and his vice president."
The company also stated that great credit goes to the President of Ukraine for holding back and staying calm despite the provocation by the US.
"It made us sick. Short and sweet," the Norwegian company’s post read.
As reported, Haltbakk Bunkers is now halting all energy resource sales to the US Armed Forces and their ships and has called on other Norwegian and European suppliers to join the boycott.
In a conversation with media representatives, Gran explained that they run a private company and choose their clients.
It was also mentioned that the refusal to supply fuel is effective immediately and applies to ships entering Norwegian ports, according to Haltbakk Bunkers. The company ends its social media post with the slogan "Slava Ukraina."
Norwegian company Haltbakk Bunkers refused to fuel U.S. military ships (photo: screenshot from facebook.com/haltbakkbunkers / kystens.no).
Gunnar Gran explained that after Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine, his company stopped selling fuel to the Russians.
"This meant that many of our competitors received significant additional income. We lost a lot of revenue. But we have a moral compass. Now, the US is excluded due to their behavior towards the Ukrainians," said the owner of Haltbakk Bunkers.
He also shared that his company employs many Ukrainian staff, and we know how horrible this war is affecting them and their families.
At the same time, the entrepreneur does not believe that such a boycott will have a significant impact or upset anyone due to the small volumes of fuel sales. He believes that around 3,000,000 liters were supplied to them in 2024, and thus, this is simply moral support.
According to Gran, US naval ships are not covered by the company's agreements with NATO. In Norway, ships receive fuel from suppliers who buy from companies like Haltbakk Bunkers.
For reference: Haltbakk Bunkers is a subsidiary of Haltbakk Group, owned by CEO Gunnar Gran. The group operates regular fueling stations, businesses, and vessels, and provides crew accommodation and chartering services.
According to the company's website, it operates the largest bunker fleet in Norway. It has 2,200 clients both in the country and abroad. Currently, the company’s fleet includes 10 bunker vessels, in addition to two fuel tankers. It also operates a series of fueling stations, both on land and for the maritime fleet, and transports fuel.
Earlier, it was reported that in the US, Democrats are raising funds to combat the confrontation between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In their statement, American politicians called this episode a disgrace.
For more details on the consequences of the conflict between Zelenskyy and Trump, and whether Europe can resolve the situation, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.
