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KT News:
‘United Kalavrvta’
Despite previous US government objections to unilateral oil sales by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), a tanker carrying 1 million barrels of crude Kurd oil has been cleared to unload its cargo at sea off Texas.
The ‘United Kalavrvta’ has been at sea since leaving the Turkish port of Ceyhan in June. It was cleared by US Coast Guard officials from the port of Galveston last night. They had been in touch with the US National Security Council and departments of State and Homeland Security.
The value of the cargo is around $100 million at international prices. The identity of the buyer is currently unknown but it is thought the oil will go to a refinery along the US Gulf Coast.
A US State Department official told Reuters on an off-the-record basis: “This is a private commercial matter. Our policy has not changed. Iraq’s energy resources belong to all of the Iraqi people. As in many cases involving legal disputes, the United States informs the parties of the dispute and recommends they make their own decision with advice of counsel.” However, some commentators wonder whether US actions are now speaking louder than the words.
