Belarus has raised the stakes to the maximum before the oil negotiations
Representatives of the state concern Belneftekhim and the heads of two Belarusian oil refineries will hold negotiations today with representatives of the Russian Transneft.
Oil workers will discuss technical and compensation issues in connection with the supply of oil contaminated with organochlorines via the Druzhba oil pipeline.
It seems that the Belarusian side is deliberately stirring up tension in the information field in connection with today’s negotiations. So, yesterday it was announced that the Mozyr Oil Refinery was stopped: supposedly low-quality Russian oil led to corrosive destruction of the heat exchange tubes.
This morning Belneftekhim suspended the export of light petroleum products to Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic countries. This was announced by Deputy General Director of the Belarusian Oil Company Sergei Grib. At the same time, “low-quality oil” from Russia continues to flow into the territory of the European Union and Ukraine, the deputy chairman of the Belneftekhim concern, Vladimir Sizov, is frightened. He also announced his intention to involve “independent experts” in assessing the damage caused to the Mozyr Oil Refinery.
Today it was announced that the second Belarusian oil refinery, Naftan, has reduced oil refining volumes, although on Sunday its management was negotiating with the Russians to increase pumping through the northern branch of Druzhba (oil in the southern branch was contaminated with organochlorines).
In addition, Belarusian officials stated that they are negotiating with the ports of Lithuania and Latvia about the purchase of an oil terminal both for the export of petroleum products and for the import of alternative (non-Russian) oil. Belarus expects to begin importing oil by the end of 2019.
“Either the Baltic ports, or Odessa, or a combination. The Mozyr oil refinery is located closer to Ukraine, which means it is quite possible that oil will flow through Ukraine. “Naftan is closer to the Baltic ports, so it is logical to consider the ports of the Baltic Sea,” said Sergei Grib.
Such large-scale statements give reason to assume that during the negotiations the Belarusians will bargain not only over compensation for heat exchange tubes, but will also touch upon a wider range of issues related to the import of Russian oil.
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