Help earn on oil: US company SLB expands the presence in the Russian Federation - FT

Back in July 2023, the Texas corporation decided to stop the supply of products and technologies to the territory of the aggressor country through international sanctions. Later it turned out that this was not true and cooperation continued. The American company SLB is expanding its presence in Russia against the background of competitors' departure. In this way, Moscow continues to earn on oil. This is stated in Financial Times.

Despite the fact that the full-scale war in the territory of Ukraine lasts for the third year, the Texas corporation has signed new contracts with the aggressor country. At the same time, the authors of the material note that it is the world's largest oil service company. In July 2023, the company's representatives stated that they stopping the supply of products and technologies to Russia from their global enterprises.

After that, by the beginning of September, the imports really slowed down, and then stopped completely. As it turned out, the information is not fully true. "Judging from the documents, the company continued to import materials from other sources by importing equipment worth $ 17. 5 million in the period from August to December 2023, ie by the last date of available records. Its subsidiaries, " - the message reads. FT journalists tried to contact SLB representatives, but they gave up comments.

But the source that is close to the corporation stated that cooperation is not "import from SLB" and therefore "corresponds to public statements SLB and international sanctions. " The authors of the material reminded that SLB is faced with pressure from human rights groups and the Ukrainian government, who claim that the work of an American company in the country helps the Kremlin to generate billions of dollars from oil and thereby continue fighting.

Kiev also included SLB on the list of "International Sponsors of War". It is known that the oil service company began to build big business in Russia immediately after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and last year revenue from operations amounted to $ 33. 1 billion. The total number of employees can be at the level of 9 thousand people. In addition, net SLB assets in Russia amount to $ 600 million.

Some of the goods imported SLB into Russia are those types that cause fears in other governments, the authors of the material write. For example: $ 3. 3 million equipment delivered since July belong to categories that can be controlled in case of export from the EU to the country. The most expensive products in this category are described in documents as electric cables and chemicals. The American corporation supplies equipment for Russia's largest oil companies, including Lukoil.

In 2022 and 2023, they received a drilling tool and other components. FT has also found about 1000 work announcements that have been posted on sites since December last year. The American company in Russia is looking for people in the posts of drivers, chemists, geologists. Additional monitoring has shown that Russian subsidiaries have registered two new trademarks in July.

"Politicians need to decide whether they are serious about Ukraine's support or not? Western energy companies can still help Russia freely produce oil and finance war. This is a deep failure," said Global Witness investigator Lela Stanley. It should be reminded that on July 30 it was reported that Russia was written in the New York Times through the false companies in Hong Kong.