MINSK, 2 March (BelTA) – The Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim expects the first tanker with Russian oil bought via traders to arrive in Klaipeda, Lithuania in early March, BelTA learned from Belneftekhim Press Secretary Aleksandr Tishchenko.
The spokesman said: “We expect the first tanker to be in the Klaipeda port in early March. The second tanker is also supposed to arrive this month.”
BelTA reported earlier that Belarus had negotiated the delivery of 160,000 tonnes of Russian oil bought for Belarusian oil refineries through traders without paying a premium. The oil will be delivered to the Klaipeda port.
Apart from that, Belarus has sealed a deal with the Azerbaijani company SOCAR to buy two shiploads of oil – about 160,000 tonnes. The oil will be delivered to Belarus across Ukraine via the Odessa-Brody pipeline. SOCAR intends to dispatch a tanker carrying oil for Belarus from the Turkish port of Ceyhan on 5-6 March.
In addition to that, six Russian companies, including SAFMAR Group and five companies Belarus has not worked with yet, will deliver oil to Belarus in March without a premium. In particular, SAFMAR Group will ship 300,000 tonnes of oil while UDS Oil will deliver 50,000 tonnes.
Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Lyashenko told BelTA that this year Belarusian oil refineries have been getting about 1 million tonnes of oil per month for processing. The same volume is expected in March.