Russia appeared to be testing a route for crude exports through Egypt's El Hamra oil terminal, Bloomberg reported on August 3, 2022. The report was republished by maritime news outlet gCaptain.
Vessel-tracking data showed a cargo of about 700,000 barrels of Russian oil arriving at the Mediterranean terminal on July 24. Another vessel later collected a consignment that may have contained some or all of those barrels, making the cargo's ultimate destination more difficult to trace.
El Hamra was built to handle crude from Egypt's western desert, creating the possibility of blending Russian oil with local production. The report identified that possibility; it did not prove that blending had occurred.
The tanker Chris subsequently departed with nearly full cargo tanks and reached Ras Shukheir on Egypt's Red Sea coast. Bloomberg said it remained unclear whether El Hamra would become a regular route or whether the movement was a one-off.
The report appeared as European buyers avoided Russian crude and EU oil restrictions were due to take effect later in 2022. The observed movements alone did not establish a violation of a particular sanctions rule.
Read more at Bloomberg. Supporting source: gcaptain.com.
