OREANDA-NEWS. Uruguayan state-owned refiner Ancap has bought a cargo of North Sea Forties for prompt delivery, after a cargo of Nigerian Bonny Light crude it purchased for early-June arrival was delayed because of loading disruptions in the Niger delta.

Switzerland-based trading firm Glencore will supply the Forties cargo from storage tanks in the Caribbean, traders said.

The purchase follows a succession of pipeline disruptions in the Niger delta this month, which have pushed Nigerian crude production to its lowest level in more than 20 years, caused widespread loading delays and prompted regular Nigerian customers to seek alternatives grades.

Last month, Ancap bought Bonny Light from Russian oil firm Lukoil's trading arm Litasco in its tender for 1mn bl of crude delivered to Jose Ignacio on 3-7 June. Litasco supplied a cargo originally due to load on 21-22 May. But Shell declared force majeure on Bonny Light exports on 10 May, following damage to the Nembe Creek Trunk (NCT) line in the Niger delta. Since then Bonny Light has continued to load, but at a reduced rate, with delays of around 5-6 days.

Around 210,000 b/d of the light sweet Nigerian grade was originally due to load in May.