…Shell has avoided public comment on its position… The Anglo-Dutch major is one of the biggest consumers of Iranian crude worldwide… Shell Chief Executive Peter Voser declined to elaborate on how much Iranian crude the company was still buying…
Exclusive: Europe’s big buyers cut ties with Iran oil
By Alex Lawler and Peg Mackey
LONDON | Thu Feb 16, 2012 12:50pm EST
(Reuters) – Iran’s top oil buyers in Europe are making substantial cuts in supply months in advance of European Union sanctions, reducing flows to the continent in March by more than a third – or over 300,000 barrels daily, industry sources said on Thursday.
France’s Total (TOTF.PA) has already stopped buying the crude, which is subject to European Union sanctions from July 1 and market sources say Royal Dutch Shell (RDSa.L) has scaled back sharply.