Belarus to lift export duties on oil products soon
GOMEL, 3 February (BelTA) – In the near future Belarus will lift export duties on oil products, Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Sidorsky told media in Gomel on 3 February.
“As oil duties stand at 100% at present, we will soon nullify export duties on oil products at Belarus’ outside perimeter,” said Sergei Sidorsky.
The head of government reminded that following Belarusian-Russian agreements Belarus will get 6.3 million tonnes of oil without duties. This figure will be used to keep oil refineries busy as well as Belorusneft and Belarusian Oil Company. They will be the main operators in charge of buying, processing oil and supplying oil products to the domestic market.
Speaking about Belarus’ cooperation with Russian oil companies, the Prime Minister remarked that Belarus is interested in advancing this partnership. “We are interested in Russian companies working on the Belarusian market. We will do our best to make the agreement signed in Moscow work,” said Sergei Sidorsky. The Prime Minister explained that according to the agreement Belarusian companies will be able to import 100% duty oil to Belarus, process it at Belarusian refineries and export oil products back to Russia. Sergei Sidorsky said it is necessary to calculate the economics of this scheme. “We can shuffle things a bit during refining because apart from gasoline, diesel fuel there are other chemical components. We need to find an opportunity for the business to gain extra revenues in this area,” he remarked. All revenues from the goods to be made on commission will be transferred to the Russian budget. “We assured it will be so,” added the Premier.
Belarus also suggested that Russian Rosneft and Gazpromneft should consider prospects of operating on the Belarusian market. They could register an affiliated company in Belarus in line with national regulations and get busy with refining the 100% duty oil to ship the resulting oil products to Russia, specified Sergei Sidorsky.
According to the Prime Minister, the President of Russia has given an instruction to assess the proposal of Belarus. “I think we will get an answer soon. Transparent operation of Belarusian and Russian companies is the most important thing,” said the head of government.
