Baghdad, Oct. 3 (SANA) The Iraqi Oil Tanker Company announced on Saturday that it transported 2 million barrels of Iraqi crude oil aboard a very large crude carrier (VLCC) beyond the Strait of Hormuz for the first time in decades.
The operation is aimed at strengthening Iraq’s capabilities in transporting and marketing crude oil, the company said.
Iraqi News Agency (INA) quoted the company’s Director General Ali Qais as saying that the company had, for the first time in decades, been tasked with transporting Iraqi-produced crude beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
The move shifts part of the process of selling Iraqi crude from delivery at the Port of Basra to transportation beyond the strait, he said.
Qais said the company had held talks with several specialized firms and secured a VLCC, which was loaded with 2 million barrels of crude and carried the shipment beyond the strait.
The operation would give the Iraqi Oil Marketing Company (SOMO) greater flexibility in crude sales and pricing, he added.
Qais added the company received continued directives to consult with relevant authorities and pursue opportunities, as soon as possible, to purchase and own specialized crude oil tankers.
The aim is to develop the Iraqi Oil Tanker Company’s capabilities and strengthen its capacity to compete with similar companies in the region, he said.
MHD
