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Shell gas stations in Russia will close, the firm said. Ina Fassbender/AFP
Global energy supplier Shell has apologized for buying a shipment of Russian crude oil on Saturday, and said it "intends" to withdraw from investments and deals in Russia. However the UK-based company said it will only do so in a "phased manner, aligned with new government guidance."
The company was not able to expand on what government advice it was referring to, or which government but told CGTN Europe it is in regular consultation with all the countries in which it operates.
Shell said it would also take immediate action, including the pausing of all "spot purchases" of Russian crude. Spot sales are immediate, one-off sales of fuels transported by sea tanker.
Shell also said it would stop all its consumer-side operations in Russia, including gas stations and airplane fuel operations.
The boycott of Russian exports has become a popular way of showing support for Ukraine during the Russian military attack.
On March 5, Shell shared a statement defending the decision to buy the Russian crude. The company said it was a "difficult decision" but said it was needed to keep energy supplies in Europe running. It added that divestment from Russian oil and gas "cannot happen overnight" due to the significant market share Russian exports command worldwide.
On Tuesday, CEO Ben van Beurden apologized for the purchase.
"We are acutely aware that our decision last week to purchase a cargo of Russian crude oil to be refined into products like petrol and diesel – despite [the decision] being made with security of supplies at the forefront of our thinking – was not the right one and we are sorry," he said.
"Our actions to date have been guided by continuous discussions with governments about the need to disentangle society from Russian energy flows, while maintaining energy supplies," he added.
Van Beurden said Shell would begin to move away from Russian energy sources, but concluded it was a decision for governments to make, and firms like Shell to follow.
"Ultimately, it is for governments to decide on the incredibly difficult trade-offs that must be made during the war in Ukraine. We will continue to work with them to help manage the potential impacts on the security of energy supplies, particularly in Europe."
