Opinions & Interviews

Supply of hydrocarbons important for Belarus’ independence

NOVOPOLOTSK, 7 June (BelTA) – Supplying Belarus with hydrocarbons and fuel represents one of the most important factors of independence. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement while talking to employees of the oil refinery OAO Naftan where a government conference was held on 7 June to discuss the modernization of Belarusian oil refineries and ways to increase the effectiveness of overseas sales of oil products, BelTA has learned.

Speaking about the government conference, Aleksandr Lukashenko said that serious political matters had been looked into among other things. The head of state described the two Belarusian oil refineries and the oil extraction company Belorusneft as the foundation of the national economy. “Future life of many Belarusians will depend on whether these enterprises will work or not. Because one cannot do without fuel these days whatever we may say about the arrival of alternative kinds of fuel, whatever we may say about the construction of the nuclear power plant and our importing 5-6 billion m3 of natural gas less,” he noted.

“You can see how our main partners – the elder brother in the east – behave themselves. The so-called tax maneuver and the rest have put our enterprises in a very serious situation,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed.

Aleksandr Lukashenko drew attention to the great volatility of global oil prices. “You know what the main players do – America, Russia, the Saudis. Either OPEC plus or OPEC minus. Everyone is trying to find their own luck either individually or together,” the president noted.

Aleksandr Lukashenko also drew attention to a number of other world problems, including trade wars between the USA and China, various sanctions and embargoes. “You have to understand the situation in Russia where we buy most of our raw materials. It is a very complicated situation,” the Belarusian leader stated.

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