PDVSA Charters Another Algerian Crude Cargo

Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA has hired a supertanker to load a second 2 million-barrel cargo of Algerian crude, according to preliminary tanker fixture data.

Venezuela will start importing light crude this month with a shipment of Algerian Saharan Blend scheduled to arrive at its Jose terminal on Oct. 26. Two additional cargoes of Russia's Urals crude were bought from Petrochina (PCCYF) to be received at Isla refinery, operated by PDVSA on the Caribbean island of Curacao.

This week, PDVSA booked the VLCC Boston to load around October 25 at the port of Arzew, according to a shipping report.

It is not clear yet if this second Algerian crude cargo will be received in Venezuela or at one of PDVSA's terminals in the Caribbean, such as Bonaire, Curacao or Saint Eustatius.

PDVSA said this week that crude imports will be "ocassional," but did not elaborate.

Reporting by Marianna Parraga