U.S. imposes sanctions against Russian oil, gas research organizations, service cos

MOSCOW. May 22 (Interfax) - The United States included more than 20 Russian organizations that specialize in services and research for oil, gas and chemical companies in its sanctions list on Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) reported on its website.

Sanctions have been extended to the following oil and gas research institutes: Energy Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Petroleum Chemistry Institute, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Kargin Polymer Research Institute; oil exploration research institute VNIGRI; Rosgeo's geophysical exploration research institute VNIIGeofizika; Lebedev Synthetic Rubber Institute (NIISK); Siberian Geology, Geophysics and Mineral Resources Research Institute (SNIIGGiMS); Almetyevsk State Oil Institute (AGNI); RN-BashNIPIneft; and Gazprom VNIIGAZ.

In addition, the updated Specially Designated Nationals List (SDN List) now includes four academic institutions: Gubkin Russian State Oil and Gas University; St. Petersburg Mining University (Mining Institute); Grozny State Oil Technical University (GGNTU); and Ordzhonikidze Russian State Geological Exploration University (MGRI).

Sanctions have also been imposed on a number of companies that provide services to and manufacture products for the energy sector: Tatburneft, which is controlled by oil company Tatneft ; Uralmash NGO Holding; Yamalpromgeofizika; Gazpromneft-Noyabrskneftegeofizika; Inkomneft; Tagras Biznesservis; and Mashoil, Oil Energy.

Kazan Synthetic Rubber Plant and a number of consulting companies, including Vygon Consulting, which specializes in the energy sector, were also put on the sanctions list.