The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on United Arab Emirates-based Pangates International Corp. for providing material support – including lubricants, lubricant additives and base oil – to Syrias government, including Syrian state oil company Sytrol.
According to a July 9 U.S. Treasury Department news release, from at least 2012 to April 2014, Pangates supplied Syrias government, including Sytrol, with a large amount of specialty petroleum products. Although these products can be used for military or civilian purposes, they have limited civilian application in Syria, the department stated. In January 2012, Pangates arranged to supply the government of Syria, including Sytrol, with various specialty petroleum products, including automotive gear box oil, turbine oil additives and marine engine oil.
Between January 2012 and April 2012, the department said, Pangates supplied Syrias government with, among other things, 3,300 metric tons of lubricant oil additives, 155 metric tons of the fuel additive MMT and 1,000 kilograms of a static dissipator additive (Stadis 450). In early 2012, Pangates participated in providing the government of Syria with over 4,000 metric tons of base oil (SN 900 and SN 150), the department noted.
In September 2013, Pangates arranged to have 272 cubic meters of aviation fuel delivered to the government of Syria. In April 2014, Pangates also helped arrange for 1,000 metric tons of aviation fuel to the government.
According to the news release, U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Pangates, and any of its assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction are frozen.
Lube Report was unable to reach Pangates for comment by deadline.
Alongside other administration efforts, we remain committed to applying economic and financial pressure on those providing support to the Assad regime, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence David Cohen said in the news release. From the onset of unrest in Syria to date, the U.S. has imposed sanctions on nearly 200 individuals and entities, including the government of Syria, its Central Bank and affiliated oil companies.
Both the European Union and the United States have imposed sanctions on Sytrol.