EMEA News
Iran's NITC Back in the Bunker Business
With a 42,000 tonne bunkering consignment loaded onto oil tankers Monday, the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) has declared itself to be re-entering the international bunkering business, local media reports.
Ali Akbar Safayee, managing director for NITC, told media that "Several preparations are made for returning to the international and European markets.
"Relying on our standards, our fleet can enter new markets and achieve the planned objectives."
NITC's re-entry was triggered by his firm, which has the Middle East's largest tanker fleet, obtaining a bunkering certificate from the government that will enable it to refuel owned or leased NITC ships more easily in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.
Prior to that, NITC was obliged to supply the needed fuel – an estimated 600,000 tons annually - for its tankers at a high price.
The main centers for fuel oil delivery in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea are the ports of Bandar Abbas, Kharg, Boushehr, Qeshm, Assaluyeh, and Chabahar.
Iran, which local reports said has a 3 percent share in Persian Gulf bunkering operations and wants to raise that to 20 percent, has raised its fuel oil supply to ships 28 percent year-on-year, according to The National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company.
Last month, Nasrollah Sardashti, commercial director for the NITC, disclosed that his company was in negotiations with two major bunkering companies to resume their pre-sanction relationships in providing fuel to its vessels.
