Official says Russia to discuss raising Belarus oil transit fee Sat

ST.PETERSBURG, Jul 12 (PRIME) – Belarusia’s request to raise the tariff on Russian oil transit is fair but overstated, and Moscow is ready to negotiate a fair tariff on Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak told reporters on Friday.

“The demand to raise the tariff on oil transit across Belarus is fair but not to the degree that the Belarusian side has stated (21.7%). Not to this degree. We must discuss a smoothing it out, it indeed has the lowest tariff on oil pumping, lower than Russia, lower than Ukraine and Europe. We will smooth the tariffs gradually, will make the decision,” Kozak said.

Kozak said that the Russian tariff is fair. He added that the tariffs are usually indexed once a year on January 1 but Russia will “offer a middle ground.”

Russia has begun quality oil shipments to the Belarusian refinery Naftan to replace the contaminated oil it sent earlier, and they fully meet Belarus’ requirements. “We’ve agreed that Naftan will be provided with an additional volume… the needed volume to fully satisfy Belarusian demand for engine fuel. The supplies are taking place now, the additional supplies.”

The problem with the quality of oil coming from Russia to Europe across Belarus via the pipeline appeared in April. The crude was contaminated with chlorides.

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