Iran to load from first terminal on Gulf of Oman

Iran will start loading some heavy crude oil from a port in the Gulf of Oman tomorrow, adding its first export terminal outside the Strait of Hormuz leading to the Persian Gulf.

The news broke when Vahid Maleki, director of the Jask Oil Terminal, told the state-run IRNA news agency on July 17. He did not explain further on the size of the cargo.

“The first vessel has arrived in the Jask region and we expect operations to load heavy crude to start Monday noon,” he told the agency.

This new facility can export heavy crude, light crude and gas condensates; with an expectation to export around 350,000 barrels of oil within the first phase.

Iran Light, is the country's main export grade, known to be a medium sour grade with 33.6 API gravity and 1.46 percent sulfur content, according to the state-owned National Iranian Oil Co. 

Meanwhile, Iran’s Heavy export grade is a heavy sour crude with an API gravity of 29.5 and sulfur content of 1.77 percent.

Most of Iran’s oil exports currently pass through the Strait of Hormuz.