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Israel gets oil from Iraqi Kurdistan's
independent pipeline
20.6.2014
By Julia Payne -
Reuters |
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The SCF Altai tanker has anchored near Israel's
Ashkelon port, June 20, 2014. Photo: Reuters •
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First oil delivery from
Kurdish independent pipeline set for Israel
June 20, 2014
LONDON,— Iraqi Kurdistan looked set to unload
its first cargo of disputed crude oil in Israel from
its new independent pipeline after weeks of seeking
an outlet as Iraq's central government has
threatened legal action against any buyer.
The SCF Altai tanker was anchored near Israel's
Ashkelon port early on Friday morning, ship tracking
and industry sources said. The tanker is expected to
dock early on Saturday, local sources said.
Securing the first sale of oil from its independent
pipeline to the Turkish port of Ceyhan is crucial
for the Kurdish Regional Government as it seeks
greater financial independence from war-torn Iraq.
But the new export route to Turkey, built to bypass
Baghdad's federal pipeline system, has created a
bitter dispute over oil sale rights between the
central government and the Kurdish Regional
Government (KRG).
The first tanker of its pipeline oil is still
homeless after loading in May. After a false start
sailing to the United States, the United Leadership
tanker turned back towards Morocco,www.Ekurd.net
where it is anchored after local authorities
refused to let it discharge for the Mohammedia
refinery.
It was not clear whether the crude in the SCF
Altai has been sold to a local refiner or was slated
to discharge into storage, potentially for another
destination.
"We do not comment on the origin of crude oil being
imported by the private refineries in Israel," an
Israeli energy ministry spokeswoman said.
The SCF Altai did not arrive directly from Ceyhan.
The United Emblem was the second tanker to load
crude at Ceyhan from the KRG pipeline at the start
of last week. It then made a ship-to-ship transfer
near Malta to the SCF Altai, local shipping and
market sources said and ship tracking showed.
Israeli refineries have taken Kurdish crude oil
before but in small volumes, which were shipped to
Turkish ports by truck. Some oil has also been
stored there.
The KRG began exporting a small volume of its Taq
Taq crude grade by truck to Turkey in early 2013 and
then added another grade Shaikan at the start of
this year.
Israel has less to lose than other U.S. or European
refiners, because it has no contract for Iraqi oil.
Iraq participates in the boycott of Israel along
with many other Arab states.
Italy has warned traders and refineries about the
legal risks of importing the oil. Large companies
with oilfield interests in southern Iraq have stayed
clear, although a joint refining venture by Rosneft
and BP used a cargo of trucked oil in May.
The KRG's pipeline is currently pumping around
120,000 barrels per day to Ceyhan. The region's
natural resources minister is aiming to export
400,000 bpd by year-end.
Copyright ©, respective author or news agency,
Reuters
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