MRPL, a major Indian client of Iran, bought 1 million barrels of Basra Light oil from Europe`s Total at a discount of $1.50 a barrel to Dubai prices on a delivered basis for March 1-10 lifting, said the source, who declined to be identified.
The Indian refiner rarely tenders for high-sulphur crude such as Basra, since it typically imports Iranian oil also with high sulphur levels, according to the terms of an annual term contract with OPEC member Iran.
In a separate tender for low-sulphur oil, the Indian refiner has purchased 1 million barrels of Congolese Coco crude from trader Vitol at a discount of $4 a barrel to dated Brent for lifting in the first half of March, said the source.
Oil company officials do not comment publically on spot tenders.
MRPL operates a refinery with a capacity of 300,000 barrels per day on the west coast of in Karnataka.
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