LONDON, Dec 7 (Reuters) – Western officials are in talks with their Turkish counterparts to resolve tanker queues off Turkey, a British Treasury official said, after the G7 and the European Union introduced new restrictions on Russian oil exports on December 5. .
“The UK, US and EU are working closely with the Turkish government and the shipping and insurance industries to clarify the implementation of the oil price cap and reach a resolution. “, the official told Reuters.
“There is no reason for ships to be denied access to the Bosphorus Strait for environmental or health and safety reasons.”
U.S. officials did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
At least 20 tankers continue to face delays crossing Russia’s Black Sea ports to the Mediterranean as operators rush to adhere to new Turkish insurance rules put in place earlier in the month.
Western insurers say the requirements go beyond what was previously necessary to transit the zone and an official from the coalition of G7 countries and Australia said the delays were not caused by a measure G7 Russian oil price cap aimed at depriving Moscow of war revenue.
Oil prices remained largely flat after rising earlier in the trading session as delays added to uncertainty in the market.
Reporting by Alistair Smout and Noah Browning; edited by David Evans
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