Dozens of oil tankers are anchored around the world after new US sanctions against Moscow

Dir.bg

At least 65 oil tankers have dropped anchor in various locations around the world after the United States imposed new sanctions on the Russian oil industry on Friday, Reuters reported, citing ship traffic data.

According to the Kremlin, the new US sanctions affecting the so-called Russian shadow fleet will have global consequences, BNR reported.

The dozens of oil tankers were anchored in various locations, including off the coasts of Russia, China, Iran and near the Suez Canal.

The new US sanctions affect the activities of Russian oil producers Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftgaz, as well as that of 183 vessels used to deliver Russian fuel. According to analyses, these restrictions affect 10 percent of tankers worldwide.

Reuters adds that some ports such as China’s Shandong have banned access to ships sanctioned by the US as early as last week.

As a result of the restrictions, profits of the so-called supertankers have increased by 10 percent, market data from today show, with analysts expecting increased demand from China and India for supplies via ships that are not subject to US sanctions.

Such decisions cannot but destabilize the international energy and oil markets. This was stated today by the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, adding that Russia has ways to counteract the restrictions, as well as that it will have to change the work of its companies.

Gazprom will have to lay off hundreds of administrative workers, a spokesman for the Russian energy giant confirmed to AFP. This is happening in the context of both the new oil sanctions and Kiev’s decision to stop the transit of Russian gas to European countries through Ukrainian territory.

The spokesman confirmed the authenticity of an internal message disseminated by the Russian media that 40 percent of the staff at the Gazprom headquarters in St. Petersburg will be laid off.

The French agency recalls Russia’s goal to redirect much of the natural gas produced to China through the planned expansion of the Power of Siberia gas pipeline. At the moment, Beijing is refraining from a final agreement on a second pipe, as well as on a long-term increase in Russian supplies.