Exxon's Russian Oil Output Collapsed after Rejecting Local Tanker Insurance

Oil output at the giant Exxon-led Sakhalin-1 Russian Pacific project collapsed following the U.S. major's refusal to accept local insurance for tankers after Western insurers pulled out due to sanctions, several industry sources told Reuters. 

Western insurers withdrew cover from tankers operated by state-run Sovcomflot, Russia's biggest shipping group, which was sanctioned following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. 

"Exxon has refused to take Sovcomflot's tankers," one industry source said. Some cargoes meant for supplies to Indian refiners were also hit as Exxon did not recognize the alternative cover Sovcomflot had arranged from Russian insurers, according to the sources. 

Sovcomflot and Exxon did not immediately respond to requests for comment. 

The developments have unfolded as the European Union is due to impose a ban on Russian oil tanker insurance and shows the major impact ship insurance and re-insurance guarantees can have on operations. 

Russia's state oil champion Rosneft, a partner in the Sakhalin-1 project, has blamed Exxon for falling output, saying that since mid-May, the project produced hardly any oil. Exxon's Russian unit, Exxon Neftegas Ltd, has cited difficulty chartering tankers due to sanctions. 

Russian newspaper Kommersant was the first to report on Monday that production at Sakhalin-1 collapsed following Exxon's refusal to work with Sovcomflot. Oil output at the Sakhalin-1 project fell to just 10,000 barrels per day (bpd) earlier this year from 220,000 bpd before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree earlier this month establishing a new operator for Sakhalin-1 that will be managed by Rosneft subsidiary Sakhalinmorneftegaz-Shelf. 

The decision gives the Russian government authority to decide whether foreign shareholders can retain stakes in the project, giving them one month to express interest or else losing their stakes. 

Rosneft holds a 20% stake in Sakhalin-1, ONGC Videsh, the overseas investment arm of India's state-run ONGC, has a 20% stake in the project, and Japan's state-backed oil producer SODECO the remaining 30%. In August, Exxon said it was in the process of transferring its 30% stake in the oil and gas project "to another party", without naming it. 

(Reuters - Reporting by Nidhi Verma and Sabrina Valle; Editing by Alex Richardson)