Media: Polish Orlen uses tankers carrying Russian oil

Polish oil refining company Orlen hires tankers used to deliver Russian oil to Asia.

Orlen needs it for the return transportation of Arab raw materials to its plants in Poland and Lithuania, writes Reuters.

According to one of the traders, the import of Arab oil to Poland is beneficial for ship owners, as it solves the problem of financial losses during the movement of an empty tanker back to Russian ports.

“The so-called dead freight is one of the problems in working with Russian oil, as not all companies agree to use vessels participating in the supply of Russian resources,” said the interlocutor of the agency.

Another trader added that shippers working with Russian oil are interested in return flights from Asia to northern Europe to be close to Russian ports.

The use of tankers operated by non-Russian shipping companies, but delivering Russian oil and petroleum products, is not a violation of sanctions. But they are subject to the price cap policy introduced by the G7 countries.

That is, Western companies can supply and insure Russian oil and oil products, provided that they are sold at a price of less than $60 per barrel.

Orlen has said it is not involved in the transportation of Russian oil, and every vessel the company works with is checked for any violations of sanctions related to the transportation of Russian oil.

When asked whether Orlen chartered vessels carrying Russian oil on the way back from Asia, the company replied that it does not comment on commercial issues and details of its cooperation with business partners.