MOSCOW
Russia and the US are finalizing contracts for diesel fuel supplies, with the first tanker scheduled to depart for the US on Thursday, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Russia-China intergovernmental meeting in St. Petersburg, Novak said the tanker would carry 40,000 tons of Russian diesel.
“The first tanker is scheduled to leave the port tomorrow, Oct. 22, for the United States,” he said.
Further shipments will follow, Novak said, adding that Russia would meet US demand within its available supply capacity.
He added that the contracts were in the final stages of signing.
Russia is gradually restoring diesel exports as refinery capacity allows, with shipments to other countries expected to increase toward the end of the year, he said.
“We are not restoring exports to their full volume at present, but are operating within the capabilities of our refineries,” he said.
Novak said Russia could restore its full diesel export volumes by the end of the year, allowing other countries to resume receiving their previous supply volumes.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump discussed petroleum product supplies during an Oct. 9 telephone conversation. Putin said Moscow was ready to supply oil and petroleum products to the US and global markets.
Novak previously said Russia was lifting diesel export restrictions earlier than planned and could supply 300,000 tons in October, 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons in December, potentially rising to 3 million tons per month over the longer term.
Gas pipeline developments
Turning to the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany, Novak said deliveries could resume quickly through the system’s sole intact pipeline, while the three damaged lines could be repaired if demand justified the cost.
“One of the four strings is operational. If European consumers or European countries and politicians want to receive supplies, gas can be delivered through this line,” he said.
He said any resumption of supplies depended primarily on European countries, particularly Germany.
Three of Nord Stream’s four pipelines were damaged in underwater explosions on Sept. 26, 2022, causing major methane leaks.
Denmark and Sweden concluded that the explosions were acts of sabotage but closed their investigations in February 2024 without identifying those responsible.
Novak also said Russia and China could reach a commercial agreement by year-end on the proposed Power of Baikal gas pipeline, previously known as Power of Siberia 2.
“We are waiting for our companies to conduct commercial negotiations. We hope they will reach the relevant agreements by the end of the year,” he said.
He explained that the project was renamed to distinguish it from the existing Power of Siberia pipeline and reflect its planned route along the southern shore of Lake Baikal.
