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Polish Refiner Raises Iranian Crude Imports

Most of the oil refined in Polish refineries comes from Russia.
Most of the oil refined in Polish refineries comes from Russia.

Poland’s biggest oil refiner PKN Orlen said on Friday that a shipment of 130,000 tons of Iranian crude oil has arrived at the Baltic seaport of Gdansk.

Most of the oil refined in Polish refineries comes via pipelines from Russia, but state-run PKN Orlen and Lotos are increasing Iranian crude imports as well, Reuters reported.

“Delivery from Iran has become a fact. Oil from the Middle East gives us many opportunities. First of all, it enables diversification of delivery directions and increases the energy security of the state,” PKN said in a statement.

The Iranian oil, which is lighter than the Russian crude and contains less sulfur, will be refined at PKN’s plant at Plock, northwest of Warsaw. PKN said earlier tests of the Iranian oil “confirmed its significant potential”.

It took a month for the Delta Kanaris tanker to transport the Iranian cargo from Iran’s Kharg Island to Gdansk.

Reportedly, protracted talks with Poland’s refiners, namely Lotos and PKN Orlen, have come to fruition and a cooperation agreement based on the Iran Petroleum Contract, the new framework for oil and gas contracts, may be signed.

  Sumar Oilfield Development

According to Gholamreza Manouchehri, the deputy head of the National Iranian Oil Company, a memorandum of understanding was signed in Tehran last year between NIOC and Poland’s state-run gas company PGNiG on studying Sumar Oilfield in the western province of Kermanshah.

“The Poles will study the field’s geological structure and its reserves in six months, and provide NIOC with the results,” he added, noting that an international tender will be announced to develop the field as soon as the results are ready.

Asked about PGNiG’s expertise in research and development, Manouchehri said, “They have already conducted similar research projects around the world, including the North Sea and Pakistan, and hope that the present agreement will help us get access to cutting-edge exploration know-how.”

PGNiG deals with the exploration and production of natural gas and crude oil and natural gas import, as well as storage, distribution and sales of natural gas and crude oil.

 

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