OSLO: President Donald Trump’s energy chief said on Tuesday the US was confident that the first cargo of Russian diesel headed for the US would eventually get sold in the global market despite the tanker carrying it coming to a halt recently.
Shipping data showed on Tuesday that the Agioi Fanendes has come to a halt off the US east coast. The haltfollowed warnings by a US governor and lawmakers about the legality of the ship’s landing in the US.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, asked whether he was concerned that the vessel, which had originally signalled it was headed to New York, had been turned away, said he had no worries.
“Not at all. No, it’ll go to another port,” Wright told reporters in New Orleans. “We just want that diesel going into the world markets.”
President Donald Trump last month announced a surprise deal with Moscow to import diesel from Russia to help lower prices at the pumps ahead of this month’s US midterm elections.
New Jersey’s Democratic Governor Mikie Sherrill this month warned local port officials and terminal operators against accepting Russian diesel, saying those shipments would break federal law. Sherrill said importing Russian diesel could expose businesses and individuals using New Jersey ports to harsh civil and criminal penalties.
