News
More Russian oil heading for Milford Haven as Chancellor mulls energy sanctions

A MEMBER of staff at Puma Energy has contacted The Pembrokeshire Herald to say that another crude oil tanker is heading for Puma Energy Berth Number 1, Milford Haven, from Primorsk in the Russian Federation.
The ship has made a brief two day stop at Le Havre before carrying on its journey to west Wales. The vessel, listed on the Port Authority website as having a gross tonnage of 62,508 is due to arrive on Tuesday at 21:00HRS (Mar 8).
The Port Authority has removed the column from their website showing the origins of the ships, but this information is publicly available elsewhere on vessel tracker websites.
Another anonymous caller to The Herald claimed that this removal of information was tantamount to smoke and mirrors tactics to try and conceal the origin of the vessel’s cargo.
The residents of Milford Haven have taken to social media in their hundreds saying they are against Russian Oil being unloaded in their town.
Last week, possibly due to public pressure, the Louis, carrying Russian cargo was diverted from Milford Haven to Antwerp.
In other parts of the UK dockers have been refusing to unload Russian oil. Dockworkers at the Ellesmere Port refinery in Cheshire have refused to unload Russian oil last week.
Dockers who vowed not to unload a tanker of Russian gas that was due to arrive at a Thames Estuary port in the early hours of Friday morning scored a victory, after the ship was diverted away from British waters.
The Boris Vilkitskiy was on its way to the Isle of Grain with a consignment of liquefied natural gas (LNG) for Centrica, the owner of British Gas, owing to an apparent loophole, which The Herald reported about on its front page on Friday.
Tankers carrying oil and gas are still arriving at or heading towards ports around the country and The Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to take a decision on banning Russian energy imports as soon as this week. The President of the USA said yesterday that the US was ready to ban Russian oil and gas as part of a unified western action following Putin’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine
SHELL OIL
On Monday (Mar 7), Shell has defended its decision to purchase Russian crude oil despite the invasion and bombardment of Ukraine.
The oil giant said in a statement that the decision to purchase the fuel at a discounted price was “difficult”.
It confirmed that it had bought a cargo of Russian crude oil on Friday, but it had “no alternative”.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba hit out at the energy company, asking on Twitter: “Doesn’t Russian oil smell Ukrainian blood for you?”
Russian oil currently makes up about 8% of Shell’s working supplies. One of the firm’s refineries, which produces diesel and petrol and other products, is also among the biggest in Europe.
“To be clear, without an uninterrupted supply of crude oil to refineries, the energy industry cannot assure continued provision of essential products to people across Europe over the weeks ahead,” a spokesperson said.
“Cargoes from alternative sources would not have arrived in time to avoid disruptions to market supply.
“We didn’t take this decision lightly and we understand the strength of feeling around it.”
The firm also said that it will try to choose alternatives to Russian oil “wherever possible”, and that profits from Russian oil will go to a dedicated fund aimed at helping people in Ukraine.
It comes shortly after the company announced that it would end all of its joint ventures with the Russian energy company Gazprom following the invasion.
That will involve the company selling its 27.5% stake in a major liquefied natural gas plant and a 50% stake in two oilfield projects in Siberia.
QUESTIONS TO THE PORT
The Herald has emailed Milford Haven Port Authority asking the following questions:
(1) Why has The Port removed details of the origins of vessels from its website in recent days?
(2) What would the Ports position be if staff refuse to unload the Russian oil, something which sources close to the matter have suggested may now happen. Would the ship be turned around like elsewhere in the UK where this has happened?
Community
Carmarthenshire man missing in Thailand: Last seen on Phi Phi Island

A 26-year-old man has been reported missing in Thailand after his family lost contact with him more than eight weeks ago.
Daniel Davies was last seen on March 13 on Phi Phi Island, a popular tourist destination in southern Thailand. He had been staying at the Hangover Hostel in Bangkok prior to his disappearance.
A missing person report has been filed with Dyfed-Powys Police, and the case is now listed under reference number DP-20250329-215.
Daniel is described as being around 6ft tall, of slim build, with blonde hair and a beard. He also has tattoo sleeves on both arms.

Echoes of the Lost – a national missing persons initiative – has now joined the appeal alongside SARS Cymru, urging anyone with information to come forward. In a statement, they said: “Daniel, if you happen to see this post, please get in contact with your family. They are worried. If you wish to message us to pass information along, please feel free to do so.”
His aunt, Nicola Doran, has been sharing emotional appeals online, writing: “My nephew Daniel Davies, 26, from Llanelli – he’s gone missing in Bangkok, Thailand. He’s been reported and is now a missing person. No one has had any contact in weeks.”
Friends and family have been spreading the appeal across social media, hoping someone in Thailand may have seen him. One post reads: “Can all my mates out in Thailand, Bangkok area, please share this and keep eyes out for my lil’ kuzen – he’s been missing 8 weeks over there.”
Daniel’s disappearance has been reported to Thai police, and the UK Foreign Office is understood to be aware of the case.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Dyfed-Powys Police by emailing 101@dyfed-powys.police.uk or calling 101, quoting reference DP-20250329-215.
Farming
Nonsense to base farm funding on population, says union

FARMERS in Wales have warned that changes to the way agricultural support is calculated could see them lose millions in future funding, as allocations move from a needs-based system to one based on population size.
The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has criticised the shift, branding the move “nonsense” and “concerning,” arguing it fails to reflect the reality that Wales has more farms per head than England.
Under the former EU model, funding was distributed based on need. However, from 2025-26, support for Welsh farmers will be included in the Welsh Government’s overall budget and determined by the Barnett formula—a population-based mechanism.
Guto Bebb, Chief Executive of the FUW, told BBC Radio Wales: “This latest decision is very concerning because if there is any future increase in farm funding, Wales will be allocated a population-based 5.2% rather than the 9.2% share we previously received based on need.”
The change, announced in the UK Budget last October, has raised alarm bells among the farming community. Mr Bebb urged farmers and unions to ensure that politicians in Cardiff remain committed to backing what he described as a “crucial part of the rural economy.”
The First Minister, Eluned Morgan, had already voiced similar concerns earlier this year, warning the Welsh Affairs Committee in Westminster that the new model could leave Wales short-changed. “When it comes to agriculture, we should be significantly higher than 5%,” she said.
Despite the concerns, both the UK Treasury and Welsh Government have insisted the new settlement will benefit Welsh agriculture.
A spokesperson for HM Treasury said: “The Welsh Government is receiving over 20% more per person than the equivalent UK government spending in England. This translates to over £4 billion more in 2025-26. The full amount of agricultural funding from 2024-25 has been baselined into this settlement.”
Meanwhile, the Welsh Government said it welcomes having full discretion over agricultural support spending and confirmed that more than £366 million has been allocated this year—an increase from the previous year when farm funding was still ringfenced.
However, farming leaders remain sceptical, warning that the shift could jeopardise livelihoods in rural communities if funding does not continue to reflect the true scale and nature of Wales’ agricultural sector.
Farming
Bird flu restrictions lifted after major outbreak in Shropshire

BIRD FLU restrictions requiring poultry and captive birds to be housed indoors in part of Shropshire have been lifted.
The measures were introduced in January following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at Griffiths Family Farms, part of Oakland Farm Eggs, near Wem.
A 3km protection zone and a wider 10km surveillance zone were established around the site. The surveillance zone extended into the Wrexham local authority area.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirmed that disease control measures have now been completed. The area previously within the protection zone is now part of the surveillance zone only.

Around one million hens had to be culled at the site—one of the largest poultry farms in the UK—after the virus was detected in the flock.
Under protection zone rules, all poultry and captive birds must be kept indoors. Surveillance zone rules require premises to keep records of all poultry and egg movements in and out of the area.
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