Pakistan is among the nations that could benefit from a new United States (US) temporary licence permitting selected energy-importing countries to access Russian crude oil.
Diplomatic sources told Dawn that the arrangement may apply to Pakistan, though Islamabad might not fully utilise the concession due to limited technical capacity.
Officials noted that Pakistan has not previously imported Russian crude at scale and may lack the refining infrastructure required to process such shipments.
The US Treasury Licence
The US Department of the Treasury has issued a 30-day general licence designed to ease immediate supply pressures in global crude markets worldwide.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced the measure on Monday, stating his department would provide the most vulnerable nations temporary access to Russian oil.
“This general licence will help stabilise the physical crude market and ensure oil reaches the most energy-vulnerable countries,” said Scott Bessent, US Treasury Secretary.
Bessent confirmed the licence would grant energy-vulnerable countries access to Russian oil currently stranded at sea due to existing international sanctions.
Supply Flexibility and Broader Goals
The Treasury Secretary stated the extension would provide additional flexibility and that specific licences would be arranged with individual nations as needed.
Bessent added that the licence would help reroute existing global supply to countries most in need of affordable and accessible energy resources.
The measure is also aimed at reducing China’s ability to stockpile discounted Russian oil, thereby redirecting stranded supply to more energy-vulnerable economies.
