Myanmar junta seeks new customers from Russia

The Southeast Asian country has maintained friendly ties with Russia, even though both remain under a raft of sanctions from Western countries – Myanmar for a military coup that overthrew an elected government last year, and Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, which it calls a special military operation. Russia is seeking new customers for its energy in the region as its biggest export destination, Europe, and is going to impose an embargo on Russian oil in phases later this year.

Military spokesperson Zaw Min Tun said during a news conference on Wednesday that we have permission to import petrol from Russia. Fuel oil shipments are due to arrive in September, according to media.

Zaw Min Tun said that junta chief Min Aung Hlaing discussed oil and gas during a trip to Russia last month. Myanmar imports its fuel through Singapore. He said that Myanmar would consider joint oil exploration in Myanmar with Russia and China. According to a statement published on Wednesday by the military, a Russian Oil Purchasing Committee was set up by a close ally of Min Aung Hlaing to oversee the buying, importing and transportation of fuel at reasonable prices based on Myanmar's needs. In addition to political turmoil and civil unrest, Myanmar has been hit hard by high fuel prices and power cuts, prompting its military leadership to import fuel oil that can be used in power plants. Since the coup in February last year, Petrol prices have risen by about 350% to 2,300 -- 2,700 kyat about $1 per liter. Aung San Suu Kyi, the former Myanmar leader, has been sentenced to 6 more years in prison. Petrol stations have shut down in various parts of the country because of shortages, according to media reports. Russia is a major supplier of weapons to the Myanmar military.