The key facts
- The first tanker with 40,000 tons of diesel fuel will depart for the US on October 22; contracts are at the signing stage
- Novak previously cited volumes: 300,000 tons in October, 500,000 in November, 1 million tons in December, and up to 3 million tons per month in the long term
- Nord Stream supplies are possible through one intact line; an agreement on the Power of Siberia is expected by the end of the year
First diesel fuel delivery to the US
Russia and the US are completing the coordination of contracts for diesel fuel supplies, and the first tanker will depart for the US on Thursday, October 22. This was announced by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak on the sidelines of the Russian-Chinese intergovernmental meeting in St. Petersburg. According to him, the tanker will carry 40,000 tons of Russian diesel fuel, and the contracts are at the final stage of signing. Further deliveries will continue, and Russia will meet US demand within its available supply capacity.
Export recovery
Russia is gradually restoring diesel fuel exports as refinery capacity allows. “We are not restoring exports in full at the moment, but are working within the capacity of our refineries,” Novak said. He added that by the end of the year Russia will be able to reach full export volumes, which will allow other countries to resume receiving their previous supply volumes. Earlier, Novak reported that Russia is lifting restrictions on diesel exports ahead of schedule and could supply 300,000 tons in October, 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons in December, with potential growth to 3 million tons per month in the long term. The topic of petroleum product supplies was discussed by Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in a phone call on October 9; Putin then stated Moscow's readiness to supply oil and petroleum products to the US market and global markets.
Nord Stream
Touching on the Nord Stream gas pipelines linking Russia and Germany, Novak said supplies could quickly resume through the only surviving line, and the three damaged lines could be repaired if demand justifies the costs. “One of the four lines is operational. If European consumers or European countries and politicians want to receive supplies, gas can be delivered through this line,” Anadolu quoted him as saying. In his view, the resumption of supplies depends primarily on European countries, in particular Germany. Three of the four Nord Stream lines were damaged as a result of underwater explosions on September 26, 2022, which caused major methane leaks. Denmark and Sweden concluded that the explosions were an act of sabotage, but closed their investigations in February 2024 without identifying those responsible.
Power of Siberia
Novak also said that Russia and China could reach a commercial agreement on the Power of Siberia gas pipeline project, formerly known as Power of Siberia 2, by the end of the year. “We are waiting for our companies to hold 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 operating Power of Siberia pipeline and to reflect the planned route along the southern shore of Lake Baikal.
