North Africa cashes in on cheap Russian gas products amid Ukraine war

North Africa cashes in on cheap Russian gas products amid Ukraine war

North African countries have been importing more discounted Russian oil and gas products, including diesel, in recent months, undermining Western sanctions on the country over its invasion of Ukraine.

There has been a huge spike in diesel exports to Europe from North Africa while simultaneously a sharp rise in imports of Russian diesel to North Africa since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, according to data from commodities firm Kpler shared with Al-Monitor.

In March this year, Morocco imported the most Russian diesel of the North African countries, shipping in 108,000 barrels per day (bpd), the Kpler data shows. Tunisia and Libya are also active importers, followed by Egypt. North African countries imported 257,000 bpd of diesel from Russia in March thus far, the highest amount since the beginning of the war on Ukraine.

Egypt has been by far the biggest diesel exporter in North Africa to Europe since the Ukraine conflict began, the data shows. In March, it is projected to export 46,000 bpd to Europe, while Libya follows with 23,000 bpd.

“We are indeed seeing higher flows of Russian oil products to North African countries. While this is true for oil products and particularly for gas