Russia sends first oil shipment to new refinery in Georgia, Reuters reports
Illustrative photo: Russia sent the first oil shipment to the new refinery in Georgia (GettyImages)
Russian company Rosneft has sent the first batch of oil to the new Kulevi oil refinery in Georgia, Reuters informs.
As the outlet notes, this is evidenced by data from the LSEG vessel-tracking system, as well as information from industry sources.
The delivery took place despite the fact that Russia and Georgia have not maintained official diplomatic relations since 2008, when an armed conflict occurred between the countries over South Ossetia and Abkhazia. At the same time, against the backdrop of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s policies, Tbilisi has in recent years been strengthening economic ties with Moscow, while relations with Western countries have been deteriorating.
According to LSEG and traders, on October 6, the tanker Kayseri delivered 105,340 metric tons of Siberian Light crude oil from the Russian port of Novorossiysk to the Kulevi terminal. It is reported that Russia is attempting to expand its export routes while simultaneously overcoming the effects of Western sanctions imposed over the war against Ukraine.
Georgia, for its part, is launching the country’s first oil refinery in an effort to reduce dependence on fuel imports from Russia, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, Romania, and Kazakhstan. The facility began operations this month with a processing capacity of about 1.2 million tons of oil per year, or approximately 24,000 barrels per day.
According to plans, by 2028, the refinery will increase its capacity to 4 million tons annually, supplying fuel both to the domestic market and for export.
Sanctions on purchasing energy from Russia
US President Donald Trump stated that India had supposedly agreed to stop buying oil from Russia. However, the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied this information, saying it was not aware of any such conversation between the leaders of the two countries.
At the same time, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that Washington expects Japan to completely stop importing Russian energy.
Some Indian oil refining companies plan to gradually reduce their imports of Russian oil.
Global oil prices have risen amid statements from the White House about its readiness to conclude a trade deal with China.
