Moscow, Minsk sign intergovernmental agreement on transshipping Belarusian oil products through Russian ports
MOSCOW. Feb 19 (Interfax) - Russia and Belarus on Friday signed an agreement on organizing transshipment of Belarusian oil products through Russian ports, an Interfax correspondent reported from the signing ceremony.
Russian Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev and Belarusian Transport and Communications Minister Alexei Avramenko signed the document. The agreement is being signed for three years, but its validity is practically unlimited because it envisages automatic prolongation. Today, Russian ports are ready to conduct transshipment of Belarusian oil products in the volume of 9.8 million tonnes, Savelyev told reporters following the agreement s signing.
Lead:
In January 202, exports of Belarusian gasoline to Ukraine amounted to 77 thousand tons
60% more than in January 2020. For comparison, in 2019, Belarus supplied the same amount of fuel to Ukraine in two months.
We are talking about large sums. By the end of last year, a ton of Belarusian motor fuel cost Ukraine from $380 to $420, depending on the type. This means that the cost of all the gasoline supplied in January may exceed $30 million.
But not all of this money goes to Naftan and Mazyr refineries. Part of it settles with the exporters. And here begins the most interesting part.
OREANDA-NEWS. Belarus increases the rate for pumping Russian oil through it s territory by 6.6%, the press service of the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade (MARCH) of the republic reported on Friday, January 29. The changes will take effect on February 1.
«The resolution of the Ministry of Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade of the Republic of Belarus No.6 «On Tariffs for oil transportation services via main Pipelines» provides for the establishment of rate for oil transit transportation services for JSC «Gomeltransneft Druzhba» with an increase of 6.6% from February 1, 2021», the message reads.
Oil transportation is carried out in transit directions and on routes for domestic consumption. Belarus transits oil from Russia through it s territory. At the end of 2020, SOCAR Trading (a subsidiary of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan SOCAR) signed a long-term contract with the Belarusian Oil Company (BNK) for the supply of Azerbaijani oil.
Economic difficulties due to Belarus sanctions ‘justified’, says Lithuanian minister
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Lithuanian Economy and Innovation Minister Aušrinė Armonaitė. / D. Umbrasas/LRT
Temporary economic difficulties in Lithuania due to sanctions on Belarus are justified, the country s Economy and Innovation Minister Aušrinė Armonaitė told BNS. Temporary economic difficulties are justified when you defend human rights, freedoms and common fundamental, eternal values, she said in an interview. Any sanctions – be it againt Belarus, Russia, Iran or any country in the world – have economic consequences. But they are not imposed for nothing; [they are imposed] to protect human rights, she said.
Lithuania supports the EU s package of sanctions against the Belarusian regime because it must face consequences for its action, according to Armonaitė.