Iran delivers first oil cargo to Belarus
Iran’s media say the country has delivered a major cargo of crude oil to Belarus through a key port in southern Ukraine.
Iran’s IRNA news agency reported that a tanker carrying 600,000 barrels of oil had docked at the Port of Odessa. The news agency quoted a Belarusian official as saying that the oil was being discharged from the tanker and was slated for processing at the nation’s Mozyr oil refinery.
Reuters reported in mid-February that Belarus’s Bel Oil had purchased 80,000 tons – equal to 600,000 barrels – of Iranian Light and Heavy crude oil from National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for loading later in the same month.
Bel Oil was expected to ship the Iranian crude oil to either the Black Sea port of Odessa or the Baltic port of Ventspils for rail transportation to Belarus, the report added. The logistics for this were yet to be agreed.
Press TV reminds that Belarus’ reported purchase of oil from Iran came as the country is trying to look for alternative crude oil supplies after Russia cut exports to the country in 2016 over a gas price row between the two countries.