Greenpeace activists sought to block a tanker on Monday from delivering Russian oil to Norway, chaining themselves to the vessel in a protest against the war in Ukraine, the advocacy group said.
The Ust Luga product tanker is currently anchored outside Exxon Mobil’s Slagen oil terminal some 70 km (43 miles) south of the capital Oslo, according to vessel tracker Marine Traffic.
Also read | US says India not violating any sanctions by importing Russian oil
Activists arriving in a small boat chained themselves to the tanker’s anchor chain as they sought to prevent the offloading of a cargo estimated at 95,000 tonnes of oil, Greenpeace said in a statement.
“Oil is not only at the root of the climate crisis, but also of wars and conflicts. I am shocked that Norway operates as a free port for Russian oil, which we know finances Putin’s warfare,” Greenpeace Norway head Frode Pleym said.
Watch | Economic fall out of Russia-Ukraine war: Indonesia bans palm oil exports
The group called on the Norwegian government to ban imports of Russian fossil fuels and said Exxon Mobil’s Norwegian Esso unit should cancel any contracts for such imports from Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
Also read | Total embargo on Russian oil and gas can stop war within a month: Putin’s ex-economic advisor
Esso Norway had agreed to buy the oil before the war broke out, and does not have plans for further purchases from Russia, a company spokesperson told Norwegian daily Dagbladet.
Esso did not immediately respond to a request for comment when contacted by Reuters.
