Belarus may buy 21.7 million tonnes of Russian oil in line with the 2011 draft fuel and energy budget of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. The sides agreed the document in December 2010. Of the total 18 million tonnes may be delivered by pipeline transport, BelTA learned from Marina Kostyuchenko, Press Secretary of the Belarusian petrochemical concern Belneftekhim.

Instead of fixed figures the oil delivery figure determined by the document is flexible. Economic situation will determine whether Belarus will get the entire volume of oil.

Operating under market terms Belarusian companies will choose the suppliers that will offer the most profitable terms. Belarus may buy 21.7 million tonnes of oil from Russia. Meanwhile, Belarusian oil refineries are supposed to process Venezuelan oil, too, in line with Belarusian-Venezuelan agreements, said the source.

BelTA has learned that Belneftekhim refineries will process all the oil Belarus plans to get. “All the oil refineries will operate at full capacity. Several new installations will be commissioned, thus raising the volume of oil refining in comparison with 2009 and 2010,” said Belneftekhim’s Press Secretary.

BelTA reported earlier that starting 1 January 2011 Belarus is supposed to get Russian oil without limitations and without customs duties. The heads of state of the Customs Union members signed the relevant agreement on 9 December 2010. The agreement on the payment and distribution of export customs duties on crude oil and certain oil derivatives, which are exported from Belarus beyond borders of the Customs Union, was ratified by the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus on 21 December 2010 and approved by the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus on 22 December 2010.

The Belarusian petrochemical concern Belneftekhim unites over 60 organizations. It accounts for over 30% of Belarus’ industrial output. Belneftekhim enterprises turn out over 500 types of petrochemical and chemical products. Belneftekhim exports about 70% of the make to over 100 countries.

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