31 CFR § 589.311 - Energy sector of the Russian Federation economy.

Date issued: May. 02 2022

TURBOFAC Commentary (233 words)

Notes:

1) This definitional provision was implemented into the URSR in 5-2-2022, and is novel in the sense that the substance does not reproduce prior-issued guidance. The provision is relevant for the purposes of OFAC's designations and SSI List additions under EO 13661 and EO 13662 (i.e. the provisions therein that allow for the imposition of sanctions on persons "operating in" certain sectors of the Russian economy).

2) Compare FAQ # 1019, which defines “new investment in the energy sector in the Russian Federation” for the purposes of EO 14066. The difference between the two definitions of "energy sector" is that 589.311 includes the "in or involving the Russian Federation" language that is missing from FAQ # 1019. This makes sense given that the FAQ 1,019 definition of “new investment in the energy sector in the Russian Federation” is limited to activity that is "located or occurring in the Russian Federation." The difference between the two definitions may signal that "located or occurring in" serves as a substantive limitation to what would qualifies as “new investment in the energy sector in the Russian Federation” for the purposes of EO 14066 (and perhaps EO 14071).

* Note: in the version of the URSR in force from 2014-5/2022, this provision was 31 CFR § 589.311 - United States. That provision was redesignated as part of the URSR amendments in May, 2022.