Iranian vessel spotted with 14,000 tonnes of alumina cargo in Venezuela, destination unknown: Sources

An Iranian-flagged vessel loaded a cargo of 14,000 tonnes of alumina in Venezuela this month after delivering supplies for an Iranian supermarket in the South American nation, said three sources familiar with the matter.

However, the customer of the cargo or the destination is still unknown. According to Refinitiv Eikon data, Golsan, a general cargo ship with a capacity to carry 22,882 tonnes, is sailing east across the Atlantic Ocean, signalling its destination as the La Guaira port in Venezuela.

The vessel is owned by Mosakhar Darya Shipping Co and managed by Rahbaran Omid Darya. Both are Tehran-based companies blocked in November 2018 by the Trump administration while reimposing sanctions on hundreds of Iranian banking and shipping companies.

No response on the latest cargo could be received from the shipping companies as one of them did not reply to an email requesting for comment, while the other could not be reached for any statement.

On the other hand, neither Venezuela's information ministry nor Iran's mission to the United Nations responded to requests for comment on the shipment.

Iran has been producing alumina for years now for using in its missile program at a secret facility set up by the elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, as per Reuters report in June.

Refinitiv Eikon data showed Golsan travelled to La Guaira after loading at Venezuelan state-owned bauxite and alumina company CVG Bauxilum's port, before setting sail on Aug. 19.

"We have advanced in our production of metallurgic-grade calcined alumina to meet national needs...with an eye toward attracting foreign currency to the country with our exports," CVG Bauxilum President Ernesto Rivero said in response to Reuters' written questions on the shipment.

Venezuela has little domestic use for alumina, given that its aluminium smelters are operating well below capacity amid a six-year economic meltdown.