EU removes Russian-made fuel required for Mars expedition from sanctions list
The European Union has lifted part of the restrictions imposed on the Russian Federation, allowing the sale and purchase of hydrazine space rocket fuel needed for a Russian-European joint project, the ExoMars.
The November 30 decision on lifting the sanctions was published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Restrictions were lifted specifically on operations that provide technical support, financing or funding regarding the sale, supply, shipment, transfer, export and import, purchase or transportation of hydrazine fuel in concentrations of 70% and higher.
The law provides that operations with hydrazine are allowed to the extent that this substance goes to testing and launching the ExoMars space probe under the ExoMars 2020 space exploration program. Volumes must correspond to the needs at each given stage of the mission but not exceeding 5,000 kg over the entire course of the mission.
Hydrazine can also be supplied for the ExoMars probe’s space carrier in volumes needed for a launch but not exceeding 300 kg.
The bill states that, “the provisions on technical assistance, funding or financial aid related to the aforesaid operations are subject to prior approval by competent authorities. In order to receive a permit for the aforesaid operations, claimants must provide necessary documentation to the competent authorities, which then must report to the European Commission about all permits that have been issued.”
The decision was published on December 1, effective the day following the publication.