West Africa Crude - China provides a dim light as refiners shut

London — Some crude traded on a spot basis to China on Friday while the demand outlook in Europe and India, a key buyer of Nigerian crude, looked dismal as the first refinery shut downs were announced.

    
* Tullow sold a cargo of Gabon's Oguendjo Blend to Chemchina loading May 20-21, several traders said. 
    
* Italy's API said it would close operations temporarily at its Ancona refinery, which has capacity of 85,000 barrels per
day (bpd)     

* In India, top refiners Indian Oil Corp and Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals           declared force
majeure, with MRPL in the process of shutting down its entire plant.  
          
* Sonangol was still offering several spot cargoes: Cabinda at dated Brent plus 50 cents, CLOV at dated Brent plus $1.20,
two cargoes of Dalia at dated Brent minus 40 cents and Girassol at dated Brent plus $1.50.