Page 14 - MEOG Week 31 2021

MEOG NEWS IN BRIEF MEOG

watching the situation closely but do not the oil trade. Ministry of Oil and the National Iranian
expect a military response for now. Tehran denied any responsibility. Oil Company (NIOC) was implemented
Tensions have risen in Gulf waters and “Reported “incidents” in the Persian Gulf benefiting from the highest domestic
between Iran and Israel since 2018, when and broader region appear utterly suspicious,” capabilities.
then-President Donald Trump withdrew the tweeted Foreign Ministry spokesperson Saeed Goreh-Jask pipeline project is going to
United States from Tehran’s 2015 nuclear Khatibazadeh. provide Iran with an alternative route for the
deal with six world powers and reimposed “Reaffirming our strong commitment to country’s crude oil exports that are currently
sanctions that have crippled its economy. regional stability & maritime security, Iran carried out through the Strait of Hormuz. The
Iran and Israel, longtime adversaries, have stands ready to offer assistance in case of any pipeline will open a new gate for Iranian oil
exchanged accusations of carrying out attacks maritime accidents,” he added. to the Indian Ocean by transferring it from
on each other’s vessels in recent months. Iran has been blamed for a deadly attack on Goreh in Bushehr Province to Jask on the
REUTERS the Mercer Street, an Israeli-linked tanker, off shores of Oman Gulf.
the coast of Oman that killed two last week. Implementation of this project took place
Ship potentially hijacked The UK and US said the ship was attacked by with about $2 billion investment, and with
the aim of creating a daily export capacity
a drone. Price said Washington is consulting
now ‘safe’ with allies and governments in the region to of one million barrels of crude oil through
decide on an “appropriate response.”
the new Jask terminal, ensuring continued
A ship that was possibly hijacked off the coast RUDAW oil exports, decentralization of export
of the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday is terminals and diversification of oil export
now “safe,” a British Maritime agency stated Jask oil terminal’s storage centers, sustainable development and job
on Wednesday morning. The incident came creation on the shores of Makran, where a
days after two were killed in an attack on a capacity to be increased capacity of 300,000 barrels of oil (per day) has
tanker blamed on Iran. been provided so far, and this capacity will
On Tuesday, the United Kingdom The director of the Goreh-Jask oil transfer gradually increase to one million barrels in the
Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) project’s storage tanks said that according near future.
reported a “potential hijack” on a ship that to the planning done for Makran region, 10 The share of more than 90 percent of
was identified by maritime analysts as the million barrels of storage capacity will not domestic manufacturing and maximum
Panama-flagged Asphalt Princess. definitely meet the need in the future, so use of the power of Iranian contractors and
Twelve hours later, UKMTO said the increasing storage capacity in the second and manufacturers is one of the most important
incident was over: “Boarders have left the third phases is inevitable. features of this national plan; 250 contractors
vessel. Vessel is safe.” Regarding the storage tanks of the Goreh- and domestic manufacturers have participated
The United States said it is too early to Jask oil pipeline project, Abdollah Ahmadi in the project’s implementation and by relying
reach any conclusions, but noted Iranian said that 20 tanks, each with 500,000 barrels on domestic capabilities, the equipment
“belligerence.” capacity, with a total storage capacity of 10 and goods required for the project were
“It’s far too premature for us to render a million barrels will be set up in Jask. manufactured domestically for the first time
judgment,” State Department spokesperson On July 22, Iran started pumping oil in the country.
Ned Price told reporters on Tuesday. into Goreh-Jask strategic pipeline. The Another notable feature that stands out
“As we said in the context of the Iranian project was officially inaugurated by a direct in this national plan is building about 1,000
attack on the Mercer Street, we have seen a order from President Hassan Rouhani via kilometers of crude oil transmission pipeline
very disturbing pattern of belligerence from videoconference. and putting it into operation in less than
Iran, including belligerence in the maritime The national and strategic project for two years, with full reliance on domestic
domain,” he added. the transfer of crude oil from Goreh in capabilities.
The incident occurred at the entrance southwestern Bushehr province to Jask TEHRAN TIMES
to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s terminal in southern Hormozgan province,
busiest waterways and an important route for with the support and leadership of the

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 31 04•August•2021