Russian Oil Producers Stay One Step Ahead of Sanctions

[former9thward]

Shippers and refiners hide origin of Russian oil, and some is getting into the U.S.

Europe just targeted Russian crude with its toughest sanctions yet, but shippers and refiners are getting the oil to market by obscuring its origins. Some fuels believed to be partially made from Russian crude landed in New York and New Jersey last month.

The cargoes were brought through the Suez Canal and across the Atlantic from Indian refineries, which have been big buyers of Russian oil, according to shipping records, Refinitiv data and analysis by Helsinki-based think tank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.

In the wake of the invasion of Ukraine and sanctions from the U.S. and the European Union, traders are working to obscure the origins of Russian oil to keep it flowing. The oil is being concealed in blended refined products such as gasoline, diesel and chemicals.

Oil is also being transferred between ships at sea, a page out of the playbook used to buy and sell sanctioned Iranian and Venezuelan oil. The transfers are happening in the Mediterranean, off the coast of West Africa and the Black Sea, with oil then heading toward China, India and Western Europe, according to shipping companies.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-oil-producers-stay-one-step-ahead-of-sanctions-11654076614

[keithbvadu2]

1. Oil has the weird ability to change national origin once it gets out to sea.

[rockfordfile]

2. Arrest and lock them up..