Saybolt International, the firm monitoring Iraqi exports for the United Nations, reported on Friday that Iraq continues to load crude tankers at the Persian port of Mina al-Bakr.
However, confusion continues to which customers are paying the illegal 40-cent-per-barrel surcharge demanded by Iraq
Two vessels, the Jade and the Nikolaos--have completed their loading and are now heading back to India.
India's Petroleum Minister Ram Naik confirmed that India would only pay the "U.N.-approved price" for the crude oil without the 40c surcharge because of a barter wheat-for-oil deal signed between the two countries in November, reported Bridge News.
But a third vessel, the Crude Traveller, chartered by a Swiss-based company, completed its loading Friday and left for St. Croix, Hovensa refinery, it seems that it did pay the surcharge, Wolfgan Vale of Energy News Live reported on Friday
Hovensa is a joint venture between Amerada Hess Corp. and Petroleos de Venezuela.Bridge Newsreported that there are five other ships waiting to begin mooring at Mina al-Bakr, a OIP spokeswoman said.
But "None of the others waiting at al-bakr have SOMO confirmation for lifting." SOMO is Iraq's State Oil Marketing Organization.
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
