Australia will soon prohibit the import of oil, natural gas, coal, refined petroleum products, and other energy products from Russia, the country’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) announced on March 11. The sanctioned products are specified in a document titled “Autonomous Sanctions (Import Sanctioned Goods—Russia) Designation 2022,” registered on the Federal Register of Legislation on March 11. The sanctions will take effect 45 days later, on April 25, to allow for Australia to receive shipments of crude oil already ordered and paid for from Russia. Two main local oil refiners Viva Energy and Ampol will be taking the deliveries. “This period will allow Australian businesses with existing contracts for the import of relevant goods to comply with the prohibition,” DFAT stated. The United States and United Kingdom have also recently announced bans on Russian oil imports. Viva Energy and Ampol separately announced on March 8 they each purchased two Russian-origin cargoes prior to the …