Operail has not applied for an import exemption for Russian oil products

Like several other companies, Operail refutes the statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and confirms that it has not applied for an exemption for the import of oil products subject to sanctions.

Eesti Päevaleht published an article on Monday in which it was stated that ‘only 12 companies have the right to import fuel in Estonia. Six of them are members of the Estonian Oil Association and have confirmed that they are not importing anything from Russia.’ That means that six companies might be importing fuel from Russia. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that there are as many as 28 such companies.

According to Raul Toomsalu, Chairman of the Management Board of Operail, the company has not applied for an exemption for the import of oil products subject to sanctions and does not intend to do so. Operail does not engage in the purchase and sale of liquid fuels. In addition, Operail does not have any Russian customers.

Like Alexela, Operail has also declared the customer contracts in force at the time of the imposition of sanctions at the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Operail turns to the ministry with a request for information to find out on the basis of which document it is claimed that Operail has applied for an exemption to continue importing oil products from Russia.

Operail is an Estonian state-owned railway company whose main lines of business are freight transport, repair and construction of locomotives and wagons, and rolling stock rental. In addition to the parent company (AS Operail), the Operail Group also includes Operail Repairs OÜ, which is engaged in rolling stock construction and repair, wagon rental companies AS Operail Leasing and Operail Leasing Finland Oy, and the Finnish railway transport company Operail Finland Oy.