Georgia's only oil refinery, located at the Black Sea port of Kulevi, is set to stop processing Russian crude oil from August-September 2026, marking a major shift in its supply strategy.

According to refinery owner Black Sea Petroleum (BSP), the facility will begin refining exclusively non-Russian crude oil, a move the company says will open access to more profitable international markets for its petroleum products, The Caspian Post reports via Kommersant.

BSP said the refinery processed more than 650,000 tonnes of crude oil during the first half of 2026, reflecting strong operational growth.

The company also announced an expanded partnership with global technology firm Honeywell, which will supply new equipment and automated control systems to modernize refinery operations.

As part of its expansion plans, BSP expects to begin producing road bitumen for domestic and export markets in the first quarter of 2027, followed by the launch of aviation fuel production in the second quarter.

Earlier this year, BSP Chief Executive Officer David Potskhveria said the refinery would replace Russian crude with supplies from Turkmenistan, citing European Union restrictions on Russian petroleum products as a key reason for the transition.

The decision comes after the European Union included BSP on a preliminary sanctions list over its imports and processing of Russian crude, accelerating the company's move toward alternative energy sources.