Angola to prioritize crude oil supply to Korea amid Middle East crisis: envoy

Angola is willing to provide South Korea with greater crude oil supplies to help ease its supply woes amid the Middle East crisis, which could serve as a basis for longer-term bilateral energy cooperation, the African nation's envoy to South Korea has said. Angolan Ambassador to South Korea Sianga Kivuila Samuel Abilio made the remarks in an interview with Yonhap News Agency in Seoul on Tuesday, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East has heightened the need for Seoul to diversify its energy supply chains. "The spot market can help in the short term if disruptions occur in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. South Korean refineries could turn to Angolan spot cargoes to meet immediate needs," Abilio said. "Instead of selling them to different companies, we can direct sales specifically to Korea to satisfy your needs," the ambassador said, noting that his country could play a complementary supplier role given limitations related to committed production, export capacity and logistics. Angola and Seoul's foreign ministry have discussed the issue, and the South Korean government is expe

Original source: Korea Times