The first cargo of Russian oil to be delivered to Israel under the recent Israel-Soviet trade agreement was unloaded at this port this week-end from an Italian tanker. The 10,000-ton cargo was destined for the Palestine Electric Corporation.
The oil, a heavy grade, will be tested by the company to see if it can be used directly in its operations without further refining. If it can be used, the power corporation will take the bulk of the 200,000 tons of oil which Israel will purchase with citrus fruit and cash. The Israeli Delek fuel company has decided to sign another agreement for the purchase of 75,000 tons of oil from the USSR.
Originally, Israel was interested in purchasing Soviet crude oil and refining it at Haifa. However, this project was abandoned because it was found that the cost of refining the Russian type of oil was too high.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
