Novak says Russian firms ready for diesel exports as contract talks continue
In short
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on October 15 that oil companies were ready to ship diesel immediately, but commercial contract talks were continuing. He said arranging contracts, loading fuel and chartering a vessel would take two to three weeks.
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Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on October 15 that Russian oil companies were ready to load diesel for export at any moment. Speaking on the sidelines of Russian Energy Week in Moscow, he said the necessary steps of concluding contracts, loading fuel, chartering a vessel and dispatching it would take two to three weeks. RIA Novosti said negotiations concerned supplies to the United States and world markets. [ 4 , 5 ]
Interfax reported that contracts with potential counterparties had not yet been concluded. Asked whether exports had actually started, Novak said commercial contract negotiations were underway. The supplied coverage does not reconcile that account with an October 14 TASS headline saying initial Russian diesel supplies had already begun going abroad. Another TASS headline from that day quoted Novak as saying exports could rise to 3.5 million tonnes a month by year-end. [ 1 , 2 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The talks concern diesel supplies to the United States and world markets, according to RIA Novosti. Interfax reported that contracts with potential counterparties had not yet been concluded.
Key facts
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The supplied reports leave the status of initial exports unclear. An October 14 TASS headline said initial supplies had already begun going abroad; October 15 reports quoted Novak saying commercial contract negotiations were continuing.