TEHRAN (Iran News) – Oil Minister Javad Owji and visiting Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro have exchanged views on bilateral energy cooperation, following the arrival of an Iran-flagged tanker in Venezuelan waters in yet another blow to Washington’s tough sanctions against Tehran and Caracas.
During their meeting on Monday, Owji and Maduro discussed issues related to fuel supplies as well as the export of petroleum products, petrochemical products, and petrochemical catalysts.
They also made decisions on the export of technical and engineering services, the reconstruction and modernization of refineries, and the development of oil and gas fields.
On the same day, an Iran-flagged tanker carrying about 1 million barrels of crude reportedly arrived in Venezuelan waters to deliver its shipment to state-run oil firm PDVSA.
The cargo is the third of Iranian crude supplied by Iran’s Naftiran Intertrade Co (NICO) to Venezuela’s state-run oil firm PDVSA following a supply contract providing the South American nation with lighter crude, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a shipping document.
In early May, the Suezmax tanker Sonia I departed from Iran’s Kharg Island port and touched waters close to Venezuela’s Amuay refinery after a month-long journey, according to an official notice of its arrival and Refinitiv Eikon vessel data.
Two other Iran-flagged tankers, the very large crude carriers (VLCCs) Dino I and Silvia I, had arrived last month at Venezuelan ports carrying the first cargoes of Iranian crude for Venezuela. They later loaded Venezuelan heavy oil and fuel for Iran in exchange, according to the tracking data and PDVSA’s schedules.
Iran has sent several cargos of fuel to Venezuela and helped in refinery repairs since 2020, frustrating Washington’s attempt to slap tough sanctions on both nations.
Last month, Venezuela began importing Iranian heavy crude, widening a swap agreement signed last year to exchange Iranian condensate for Venezuelan heavy crude.
The contract signed by Iranian and Venezuelan state companies in May also covers refurbishing and expanding PDVSA’s 146,000-barrel-per-day El Palito refinery.
