CSSSA, which is affiliated to France’s TotalEnergies as its shipping arm, has provisionally contracted a suezmax tanker to load Abu Dhabi crude in early May for Europe, Reuters reported citing traders and a shipping report.

This transaction is the first of its kind in two years. According to the report, the tanker will load 1 million barrels of Murban crude from the port of Jebel Dhanna in the United Arab Emirates for Britain on May 1-3.

This action came as a part of Europe’s effort to secure energy sources after their decision to ban importing energy supplies from Russia due to its aggression against Ukraine.

According to the traders, the UAE is expected to ship more cargoes of Abu Dhabi crude grades – Murban, Das and Upper Zakum – to Europe during the upcoming months to help replace Russian oil.