Minister says Belarus starts oil imports from US

MINSK, May 15 (PRIME) -- Belarus is starting to import oil from the U.S., Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said on Friday, as cited in a statement of the ministry.

"I am happy to confirm the start of oil shipments from the U.S. to Belarus. This has become possible as a result of agreements attained during a visit of U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to the Republic of Belarus on February 1, 2020 and a meeting with President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko," Makei said.

Oil refining company Belneftekhim spokesman Alexander Tishchenko said that the first tanker holding 80,000 tonnes of U.S. oil for Belarus would arrive to Lithuania's Klaipeda at the beginning of June. 

Belarus started to seek diversification of oil sources in 2020 after it failed to agree with Russia. Belorussian Prime Minister Sergei Rumas said in April that Belarus expects to receive 2 million tonnes of Russian oil in April at around U.S. $4 per barrel. The Russian government will compensate a $4.7 per tonne premium to the suppliers via interbudget payments, and companies will cut the premium by $7 per tonne. 

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