The United States extended the permit for the supply of Russian oil from Sakhalin–2 to Japan

The Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (OFAC) has extended licenses related to the Sakhalin-2 project until December 18. The relevant documents were published on the agency's website on June 11.

According to the document, the permit for operations related to the provision of services for the Sakhalin-2 project is extended until December 18. Another license permits operations related to the sea transportation of oil produced under the Sakhalin-2 project, provided that it is intended exclusively for import to Japan.

"All transactions prohibited by the decision of November 21, 2022 <...> concerning the sea transportation of crude oil originating from the Sakhalin-2 project are allowed until 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard time on December 18, 2026," the document says.

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On May 2, the Japanese company Taiyo Oil announced the purchase of a batch of Sakhalin Blend grade oil produced as part of the Sakhalin-2 oil and gas project in order to diversify supplies outside the Middle East. At the same time, the company stressed that Sakhalin Blend oil is not subject to sanctions.

Kyodo news agency added on May 4 that the tanker had entered the port of Kikuma in Ehime Prefecture in southwestern Japan. It was noted that this is the first oil supply from Russia after the beginning of the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, which is the most important transportation hub for energy supply in the region.