It is the first time Belarus has bought Iranian crude oil. The country is looking for alternative crude oil supplies after Russia cut exports to Belarus in the second half of 2016 and is threatening further cuts this year over a row about gas pricing between Minsk and Moscow.
Bel Oil declined to comment on the matter. NIOC did not respond to query from Reuters.
Bel Oil will ship the Iranian crude oil to either the Black Sea port of Odessa or the Baltic port of Ventspils for rail transportation to Belarus, with the logistics yet to be agreed, two trading sources told Reuters.
It was not possible to immediately identify a vessel that will carry Iranian barrels for Bel Oil, but traders that it will be loaded around Feb. 20 from Kharg Island.
Belarus imported a total of 560,000 tonnes of sweet Azeri Light and CPC Blend crude oil via the port of Odessa supplied by Azerbaijan’s SOCAR in 2016 to cope with lower Urals supplies, Reuters trade flow system shows. But these shipments stopped in January as Belarus looked for a sour grade to replace Urals.
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