Opinions & Interviews

Privatization of Belarusian oil refineries ‘out of the question’

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MINSK, 20 October (BelTA) – The privatization of Belarusian oil refineries is out of the question. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement as he appointed Andrei Soiko Director General of the oil refinery OAO Naftan on 20 October, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “It is not a simple enterprise. You know it better than I do. Multiple corrupt officials and all kinds of thieves willing to privatize the enterprise preferably for a song always sniff around. You know my point of view: the privatization of oil refineries is out of the question today. Regardless of how hard the market situation can be.”

The head of state remarked that oil refineries all over the world are having troubles due to falling prices for oil and the falling demand for oil, due to the pandemic. “It causes problems. There are other kinds of problems, too, but we don’t want to consider the privatization of our giant companies that we’ve managed to preserve and to upgrade as you can see,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

“Ups and downs happen all the time. In this time of crisis we should seek ways that will lead us to a normal development trend,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.

It was noted that new candidates to fill in executive posts, including the head of Naftan, are thoroughly vetted. Although Andrei Soiko is rather young, he has a considerable track record of working at various enterprises of the industry and in the management of the Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim.

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted: “It is good that young people get executive jobs. This policy was adopted a long time ago. Some people fail to see it for some reason. They think school graduates can run companies. No, they have to experience life first just like the people, who are present here. Then they will make sense. It is at least a dangerous delusion when people think they can roam cozy and clean streets in Minsk a bit and take over the management of not just some enterprise but the country tomorrow. Nobody is forbidden to think like that. Ambitions are a good thing. You just have to measure your potential well.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko conformed that the candidates for the new appointments had been thoroughly vetted. “Time needs not only good professionals. Today time needs reliable people, loyal people, who are devoted to their country,” he stressed.

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