U.S. oil giant Exxon Mobil cannot start regular exports of Sokol crude from
U.S. oil giant Exxon Mobil cannot start regular exports of Sokol crude from its De Kastri terminal in Russia?s Far East before Nov. 15 as it has yet to undergo more checks, a Russian official said on Thursday, Sept. 21.
Russia?s technical standards watchdog in the Far East, Alexander Poleshchyuk, told Reuters he believed the terminal would be allowed to export crude in two trial cargoes of 100,000 tons each before Nov 15. He said Exxon wanted to export five.
?We have a lot of remarks concerning completion and launch of the terminal. But these are working issues, which always arise when an object is being readied for launch,? he said.
?For us to issue a permission to launch the terminal, they (Exxon) have to submit it for launch permission. The plan today is for November 15.?
?Before that trial tanker loadings are possible. They want to lift five trial tankers. We believe they cannot load more than two 100,000 ton cargoes,? he said.
