South Korean construction company DL E&C Co., Ltd supplied turbine lubricant to Russia’s Amur Gas Chemical Complex in March 2025, according to an investigation by Monthly Chosun. The shipment raises concerns about potential US secondary sanctions risks for financial institutions involved in transactions linked to Russia.
According to a bill of lading cited by the publication, approximately 300 gallons (around 1,200 kg) of turbine lubricant shipped by DL E&C arrived at the Russian petrochemical plant on 6 March 2025. The product originated in South Korea, with DL E&C listed as the exporter and Busan specified as the delivery location.
The Dekleptocracy Project — a US anti-corruption NGO and member of the B4Ukraine Coalition — highlighted that the US Department of the Treasury identifies turbine oil and turbine oil additives as items relevant to its Russia-related secondary sanctions framework.
“An export licence and a civilian end user don't shield the banks behind the deal from US secondary sanctions,” the Dekleptocracy Project said.
Under Section 11 of Executive Order 14024, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) may impose sanctions on foreign financial institutions that conduct transactions or provide services related to the supply or transfer of designated items to Russia.
The case highlights the potential sanctions risks associated with supplying industrial products to Russia, even when a transaction has received an export licence or involves a civilian end user.
We call on US authorities to investigate the shipment and on DL E&C to halt all its operations in Russia.