The tankers, owned by Tengizchevroil—Kazakhstan’s largest oil-producing and distribution company—are stuck at rail stations in Brest and Baranovichi, Belarus, Kazakh news site Orda reported on Monday.
Polish authorities have asked for multiple sets of documentation to verify that the shipment genuinely originated in Kazakhstan, delaying entry into the European Union.
“Because of the image that Kazakhstan helps Russia bypass EU sanctions, European customs agencies are highly concerned that Russian gas may be re-exported under the guise of Kazakh LPG,” said Oleg Chervinskiy, an oil industry analyst and publisher of Petroleum magazine in Kazakhstan. He noted that Tengizchevroil’s supply schedule is affected by the shortage of available rail cars, which remain stalled at the border.
EU restrictions
The EU introduced restrictions on Russian gas imports in late 2023, allowing a one-year transition period before the ban took effect on December 20, 2024, in an effort to curb Russian revenues from energy exports.
Orda said Kazakhstan’s embassy in Brussels is negotiating with David O’Sullivan, the EU’s special envoy for sanctions implementation, but no agreement has been reached so far.
O’Sullivan is expected to visit Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on June 30 to meet local officials and hold a press conference, though the EU mission in Astana did not specify the agenda for the talks.
(jh)
Source: PAP