Greenpeace activists block Russian oil tanker in Norway

Oslo, April 25 - Neftegaz.RU.Activists from Greenpeace in Norway blocked today a Russian oil tanker from unloading its cargo in a protest against Ukraine invasion.
The action took place in the Slagentangen oil port owned by Esso, a Norwegian subsidiary of U.S.-based ExxonMobil.

Activists in a boat have chained themselves to the anchor chain to prevent the Ust Luga from going to pier and offloading.
Norway´s police had arrested 20 Greenpeace activists.
Head of Greenpeace Norway Frode Pleym, said:

• I am shocked that Norway operates as a free port for Russian oil
• The fact that our government still allows the import of Russian fossil fuels in the current situation is unfathomable
• The Ukrainian president has called on Europe to halt Russian energy and with good reason
• Putin’s sources of revenue must be dried out immediately and banning oil import is a very good place to start

The Ust Luga is loaded with 95,000 tonnes of jet kerosene with a market value of $116 million.
The tanker is operated by NOVATEK, Russia’s 2^nd-largest natural gas producer.

A spokeswoman for Esso Norway Anne Fougner told newspaper Dagbladet:

• The shipment in question was not affected by Western sanctions
• The contracts were entered into before Russia invaded Ukraine
• Esso Norway has no other contracts for products from Russia

The EU still has not banned Russian oil imports, European countries are highly dependent on Russia to meet their oil & gas needs.