The EU sanctions Kulevi refinery for processing Russian oil, allowing a six-month grace period before the ban takes effect.
The European Union has included the Kulevi oil refinery on the Black Sea coast of Georgia in its sanctions list due to its processing of Russian crude oil. While the ban on operations is set to come into effect after a six-month transition period, the refinery management has announced that it will replace Russian oil with supplies from Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan.
The EU's 21st sanctions package directly targets oil processing facilities outside of Russia as well. The Kulevi refinery, located on Georgia's Black Sea coast and operated by Black Sea Petroleum, has been subjected to a ban on operations. The enforcement of the ban is anticipated to take place after a six-month transition period.
The Kulevi refinery began receiving its first shipments of crude oil from Russia in late 2025. According to ship tracking and trade data, the facility accepted six shipments of Russian crude oil between October 2025 and May 2026. It has been reported that some oil products produced at Kulevi have been sent to Spain and Bulgaria.
Black Sea Petroleum has stated that it will cease the use of Russian crude oil and will instead procure oil from Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and other sources. EU officials have indicated that removal from the sanctions list will depend not only on promises made but also on actual changes in shipments.
The measures taken do not imply a complete halt to all commercial activities at Kulevi Port or the closure of Georgian ports. The stated target of the sanctions is the refinery processing Russian crude oil and the EU-related transactions associated with this facility. Other cargoes and operations at the port will be evaluated separately.
If Russian oil is replaced with Turkmen or Kazakh oil, changes may be observed in tanker routes and source distribution in the Black Sea. However, merely changing the certificate of origin for the crude oil will not be sufficient. The actual origin of the cargo, blending processes, carrying tankers, and the payment chain will be further scrutinized by EU companies.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
