* March Iran crude imports at 505,908 T from 417,188 T in
Feb
* Unclear who buys Iranian crude
(Adds details, context)
By Agnieszka Flak
JOHANNESBURG, April 30 (Reuters) – South African crude oil
imports from Iran rose to 3.37 billion rand ($434.8 million) in
March from 2.8 billion the previous month, customs data showed
on Monday, indicating Pretoria had not bowed to U.S. pressure to
curb commercial links with Tehran.
The Revenue Service said Africa’s biggest economy imported
505,908 tonnes of Iranian crude in March, up from 417,188 tonnes
the previous month.
South Africa has come under Western pressure to cut Iranian
crude imports as part of sanctions designed to halt Tehran’s
suspected pursuit of nuclear weapons, but the response from
diplomatically non-aligned Pretoria has been unclear.
South Africa could take an economic hit if it does not
comply. Its Iranian crude imports declined between October and
January, when they reached zero, but they began rising again in
February.
Neither the foreign ministry nor the department of energy
were willing to comment.
It is also not clear who bought the crude after almost all
South African refiners said in recent months that they had
already found alternative suppliers.
Continued…
