EU member states are discussing a $60 price cap on Russian oil, Bloomberg reported, citing knowledgeable sources. G7 countries back the price cap on Russian oil.

The EU had planned to announce a price cap on Russian oil on November 23, but negotiations within the bloc were delayed. In four days, on December 5, the embargo on fuel imports to the European Union by sea will come into force. but the decision has not yet been taken and coordinated with the G7 countries, which are not members of the EU. Within the European Union, Poland, Lithuania and Estonia require lowering the bar much lower, and Greece, Cyprus and Malta, which have a very developed shipping industry, on the contrary, insist on softer conditions. Explained Bloomberg. 

It is still unclear whether both groups are willing to go to the limit of $60 a barrel, but most – agree, subject to other requirements, say agency sources. Negotiations are ongoing. The decision requires the approval of all EU members and the agreement of the decision with the G7. According to one of Bloomberg’s sources, $60 a barrel falls within a suitable range for the G7.

What does the price cap on Russian oil mean?

What does the price cap on Russian oil mean? $60 a barrel is even a bit more than what Russian oil costs on the market now, Bloomberg said. The purpose of the cap is to limit Russia’s income from selling oil while keeping it on the world’s market. And EU sanctions, if the ceiling price is not set, will prohibit maritime transport of Russian oil to third countries and insurance of these shipments. 

For the scheme to work, the ceiling must be attractive enough for Russia to continue trading; otherwise Moscow could threaten to reduce production, and this would lead to a spike in global oil prices. Bloomberg explained.

The day before the EU embargo goes into effect, OPEC+, in which Russia also sits, will meet. On November 29, sources told Bloomberg that the format of the meeting was suddenly changed to an online meeting instead of a face-to-face meeting. The sources at Bloomberg did not explain what this was about. But we note that the tension in the market is already affecting even Google stock price predictions. 

At the last meeting on October 5, which was the first face-to-face meeting since the beginning of the pandemic, OPEC+ went for the sharpest production reduction since 2020 – by 2 million barrels per day. 10 traders out of 17 surveyed by Bloomberg expected that new production cuts could follow at the new meeting as well.

Earlier we reported that oil prices are falling amid protests in China.