MINSK, 7 October (BelTA) – Belarus is negotiating purchasing oil from Iran. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the statement as he addressed outgoing and newly elected members of the country’s parliament on 7 October, BelTA has learned.
Alexander Lukashenko noted: “We are now in negotiations with Iran, which is beside itself trying to find buyers for Iranian oil. Iran is ready to reduce prices for us. It may even go as far as to use Mozyr Oil Refinery or some other refinery to process its oil and sell derivatives wherever it likes. The Iranian side looks favorably on the available options.”
In his words, the Belarusian government has been instructed to find alternatives to Russian oil. “We have reached an agreement. Today a loaded tanker will be on its way to Odessa. We will start bringing oil via Ukraine to Mozyr Oil Refinery,” said Alexander Lukashenko.
According to Alexander Lukashenko, Belarus will also resume the construction of an oil pipeline from the Baltic states. Apart from that, the President gave instructions to complete the modernization of the Novopolotsk oil refinery as soon as possible.