The Sierra Leone‑flagged tanker Sara Sky delivered more than 700,000 barrels of Russian ESPO crude to Limay port near Manila, with documents listing Petron Corp as consignee. The shipment appears to be the first Russian cargo to the Philippines in five years and comes as the government declares a national energy emergency amid supply disruptions and soaring LNG prices. Manila has activated a 20 billion‑peso emergency fund and will temporarily boost coal‑fired power output to help stabilize electricity and fuel supplies.
Philippines Accepts 700,000+ Barrels of Russian Crude as Energy Emergency Deepens
A fisherman paddles before the Sierra Leone-flagged Sara Sky, which is carrying crude oil from Russia, anchored at Limay port, Bataan province on March 26, 2026 (Ted ALJIBE)(Ted ALJIBE/AFP/AFP)
A tanker carrying more than 700,000 barrels of high‑quality Russian ESPO crude — the Sierra Leone‑flagged Sara Sky — arrived at Limay port near Manila on Monday, according to documents and eyewitnesses cited by AFP. The papers name Petron Corporation, operator of the country’s largest refinery, as the consignee.
Believed to be the first shipment of Russian oil to the Philippines in about five years, the delivery arrives days after President Ferdinand Marcos declared a national energy emergency amid global disruptions to supply routes and rising fuel costs. Government officials say domestic fuel stocks are estimated to last roughly 45 days.
Why This Matters
The move underscores Manila's widening search for reliable supplies as liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices surge and parts of the Strait of Hormuz face intermittent closures related to the Middle East conflict. In response to the pressure on energy supplies, the Department of Energy activated a 20 billion‑peso ($332 million) emergency fund to secure fuel imports and stabilize domestic markets.
President Ferdinand Marcos: "We have not only gone to our... traditional oil suppliers; we have tried to explore other sources that are not affected by the war. Nothing is off the table."
Petron CEO Ramon Ang had previously told AFP the company was "in talks" about possible purchases of Russian crude but declined to confirm this specific cargo. This month the United States temporarily eased some restrictions, allowing purchases of Russian crude that were already at sea until April 11; market analyst Kpler estimated roughly 120 million barrels of Russian crude were in transit at that time, though much of that volume may already be committed to buyers in China or India.
Short-Term Measures
Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said the government will temporarily increase output from coal‑fired power plants to keep electricity prices in check while gas shipments remain disrupted and LNG costs remain elevated. Garin also noted that Indonesia — a principal regional coal supplier — has placed no restrictions on the Philippines' potential coal purchases.
The arrival of the Sara Sky highlights Manila's pragmatic approach to a fast‑moving energy challenge: diversifying suppliers, tapping emergency funds, and using domestic generation levers to shield consumers from sharp price spikes.
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