Iraqi crude oil tankers enter Jordan via Trebil border, as supply remains stable

AMMAN — The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources confirmed on Friday that Iraqi crude oil tankers have entered Jordan through the Trebil border.

The Jordan News Agency, Petra, has reported on Wednesday that a number of Iraqi oil tankers were forced to return to the Ramadi area in Iraq for safety reasons due to protests near the Trebil border crossing.

An official source at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources told Petra that the oil imported from Iraq only accounts for 7 to 10 per cent of the Kingdom’s needs.

The source said that the return of oil tankers does not impact the Kingdom’s supply, as “major contracts” are in place between the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company and Saudi Aramco, through which the majority of Jordan’s crude oil needs are imported. 

These existing contracts allow for increasing the quantity of imports in the event of any shortage, he added.

Speaking with The Jordan Times, Assistant Secretary-General for Energy Affairs Hasan Hyari said that the thirty-three tankers, which arrived on Friday, include around 8,500 oil barrels and account for the final shipment of Iraqi oil for this month.

He added that around 15,000 barrels of crude oil are transported from Iraq to Jordan per day.

Hyari further noted that the Kingdom consumes approximately 4 billion litres of oil derivatives per year. 

Jordan’s current strategic crude oil reserves cover its needs for over 44 days, and its reserves of oil derivatives are enough for over two months, according to the ministry.