Exxon Mobil is seeking permission from the U.S. government for approval to resume drilling around the Black Sea with a Russian partner, state-owned Rosneft, according to a person familiar with the matter. The Treasury Department, which would handle Exxon's application to drill around the Black Sea, did not respond to a request for comment. The head of Exxon's Russian partner, Rosneft, was personally blacklisted. If the sanctions are lifted Exxon could push ahead with lucrative exploration and production opportunities in the Black Sea, Siberia and the Russian Arctic. Exxon's critics said that if the Trump administration approved Exxon's request, which was reported first by The Wall Street Journal, then Congress should block it on environmental and national-interest grounds.

Source: CBC News April 20, 2017 02:48 UTC