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Work in progress on oil import from USA to Belarus

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MINSK, 16 March (BelTA) – The possibility of importing American oil to Belarus is being worked on, BelTA learned from Aleksandr Tishchenko, Press Secretary of the Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim.

Asked about the possibility of importing oil from the USA to Belarus, the spokesman noted the possibility had not been ruled out and work on it is in progress. “The format is being worked on,” he said. According to the source, work on the negotiation positions is in progress. Speaking about the resumption of oil deliveries from Baltic ports to Belarus by pipeline, the official noted they continue working on it. “A working group is being set up in order to fully take care of the matter,” he said.

U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo visited Belarus on 1 February. After talks with Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko the diplomat said that the USA stands ready to deliver 100% of the energy resources Belarus needs at competitive prices.

An international expert seminar took place at premises of the Belarusian Institute of Strategic Research (BISR) on 4 March. The seminar gathered representatives of Latvian and Lithuanian railway administrations, oil transshipment and logistics companies, port administrations, and diplomats. The Belarusian side was represented by top officials and experts of the state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim, Belarusian Railways, and the Association of European Business.

An agreement was reached that specialists will determine an optimal way to resume the operation of the pipeline system that will allow delivering oil from Baltic ports to Belarus. A working group will be set up soon to take care of the technical aspect of the matter and the legal one. Technical information will be used to prepare an agreement and push the project to the intergovernmental level.

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