MINSK, 19 May (BelTA) – Belarus has reconciled Belarus-Russia draft roadmap on resolving the situation with the Russian oil delivery and embarked on the implementation of the document, BelTA has learned from Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Igor Lyashenko.
“After the talks with Russian Vice Premier Dmitry Kozak in Moscow on 16 May and in line with our agreements, a group of Belarusian and Russian specialists discussed and drafted a roadmap on replacing the tainted Russian oil in the territory of Belarus,” Igor Lyashenko said. In his words, in line with the roadmap, Belarusian oil refineries will be provided with raw materials and the transit of Russian oil towards Europe will be resumed.
“Taking into consideration the importance of this document and the need to strictly fulfill it, I suggested approving the roadmap at the level of vice premiers of our states. Belarus has already finalized the draft roadmap and forwarded it to Dmitry Kozak for signing,” Igor Lyashenko said.
He emphasized that Belarus already embarked on fulfilling the initial provisions of the roadmap.
Belarus also suggests increasing supplies to the Belarusian oil refinery Naftan as soon as possible. “We told our Russian counterparts again that Naftan is ready to process more Russian oil pumped along the Nevel-Polotsk-Naftan rout. Belarus suggests increasing oil supplies as soon as possible without linking it with other actions,” Igor Lyashenko noted.
BelTA reported earlier that on 19 April Belneftekhim registered a massive decrease in the quality of the Russian oil mixture Urals flowing in transit into the main oil pipeline section operated by OAO Polotsktransneft Druzhba. The concentration of chlororganic compounds in oil exceeded standard thresholds dozens of times over. The oil pipeline system Druzhba is designed to deliver oil to Belarusian oil refineries and transport oil to Europe in transit via Belarus in two directions – via Poland and via Ukraine. Untainted oil was delivered to the Belarusian border by the Druzhba pipeline on 2 May.