Georgia's sole oil refinery to stop processing Russian crude from August
Georgia's only oil refinery, Kulevi, operated by Black Sea Petroleum, will shift to processing only non-Russian crude from August-September, ending its reliance on Russian oil while expanding production.
Black Sea Petroleum has announced that its Kulevi oil refinery in Georgia will begin processing only non-Russian crude oil from August to September, completely ending its dependence on Russian oil. The refinery, which is the only one of its kind in Georgia, currently relies on Russian crude supplies. As part of this transition, the company also plans to expand its production capacity. The move is aimed at diversifying feedstock sources and reducing geopolitical risks associated with single-supplier dependency. Specific details about the new crude suppliers and the exact timeline for the full transition have not been disclosed, but the company assures that refinery operations will continue uninterrupted. This change could affect regional oil trade flows, reducing Russian crude exports to Georgia. Black Sea Petroleum emphasizes that the expansion will increase processing volumes and improve operational efficiency. It remains unclear whether these changes will impact local fuel prices.
