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Russia is expanding its energy holdings in the Arctic, where it intends to pump gas. Other countries also compete for access to and extraction of energy resources in the Arctic. This requires special technology, which is often produced only in factories in European Union countries.
Photo by Scanpix / Russian Icebreaker in the Arctic
The EU has imposed an asset embargo on Russia to extract gas or oil. This was in response to Russia’s embargo on EU food producers for whom the Russian market is closed. However, some European companies are trying to circumvent this ban.
One of them is Cameron Romania, which tried to send cargo through Lithuania to a Russian company dedicated to exploration and extraction in the Arctic region.
Photo by Cameron Romania. / cameron-schlumberger
Stopped for various reasons
The equipment for pumping gas in the Arctic territory was stopped on Friday in Lithuania by officials of the Customs Department.
‘The shipment is stopped because the merchandise is dual-use and an export license must be presented for such exports. Furthermore, when exporting machinery used in the oil and gas industry from the European Union, the export is subject to the corresponding sanctions ”, announced the Customs Department.
Julius Kalinskas / 15min photo / Customs mobile group car presented at the Customs Department
The technology produced by the Romanian company Cameron Romania, which was destined for Russia, arrived in Lithuania by truck.
The fact that the consignor is in fact a Romanian company 15 minutes approved by Rolandas Jurgaitis, Senior Advisor of the Customs Procedures Division of the Customs Department.
It is true that, according to your data, the export procedure was not declared by the Lithuanian company to the Lithuanian customs, but by a company registered outside the EU. The cargo was likely serviced by a Russian company.
The recipient is a Russian company
The Customs Department suspects that the recipient of the merchandise is the UK Arctic Gas company, which is engaged in the exploration and extraction of energy resources in the Arctic. EU companies cannot sell their technology to extract energy resources.
This was not the only reason the shipment was stopped. The Customs Department suspects that the real value of goods with a declared value of more than one million euros is reduced. Customs officials estimate that the actual value of the cargo exceeds three million euros.
Even more questionable is the fact that the Romanian company that produced the technology belongs to the French industrial giant Schlumberger.
Marius Laurinavičius, an analyst for Eastern European studies, doesn’t think this is a mistake. “It just came to my attention then. Intermediaries: the usual Russian scheme. The French themselves probably don’t want to send, so also the Romanians. Yes and less attention. I think they expected this shipment to pass through.” 15 minutes he said.
True, he said, so far too little information to draw firm conclusions. The Customs Department continues its investigation.
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