Kulevi refinery completes transition away from Russian oil

Black Sea Petroleum (BSP) has announced that its Kulevi refinery in Georgia has completed its transition to exclusively non-Russian feedstock. The move follows pressure from the European Union, which included the refinery in its 21st sanctions package against Russia. The EU had issued a conditional sanction, providing a grace period until January 2027 for the facility to cease processing and trading Russian crude.

To achieve this diversification, the refinery began processing Kazakh crude in July and recently received its first shipment of Libyan crude. The tanker Kriti Legend arrived at the port of Kulevi on August 30, carrying up to 90,000 tonnes of Libyan oil. This shipment is part of a long-term supply agreement signed on July 3 that runs through the end of 2027, with an option for extension.

While the refinery's initial capacity is approximately 1.2 million tons per year, the shift serves as a significant commercial signal. As European sanctions continue to target Russian energy, refiners are increasingly seeking alternative suppliers, with Libya positioned as a key partner due to its proximity to European markets and growing production capacity.