Pakistan Petroleum Division is attempting to purchase Russian crude oil for approximately $50 per barrel, which is at least $10 per barrel below the price ceiling imposed by G7 countries on this valuable commodity originating from Russia because of its conflict with Ukraine. Presently, crude oil is being sold internationally for $82.78 per barrel.
Officials participating in the virtual negotiations with Russia have disclosed that Moscow is primarily focused on fulfilling all prerequisites, such as deciding on the method of payment, shipping costs with premium, and insurance expenses, before entering into an agreement with Pakistan.
These officials, who requested anonymity, revealed that Russia will respond regarding the discount on the base price after the prerequisites are finalized. They also stated that shipping the crude oil from Russian ports will take 30 days, resulting in a $10-15 per barrel increase due to transportation costs.
The talks between Moscow and Islamabad are progressing positively, with the expectation that a government-to-government deal on Russian crude oil imports will be finalized by the end of March. When asked, officials stated that the government has decided not to disclose the payment method to Russia for crude oil imports, but authorities are considering using Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) ships or Russian tankers for transportation.
