Russia to compensate $15 per barrel for Druzhba case to Minsk

MINSK, Feb 25 (PRIME) -- Belarus has signed a protocol on compensation for oil contamination in Druzhba pipeline with Russia at U.S. $15 per barrel, Deputy CEO of state oil refining holding Belneftekhim Vladimir Sizov told reporters on Tuesday.

“Active work is being carried out, a protocol has been signed on the Russian side’s readiness to compensate. Work is being done to establish and confirm the compensations which must now be paid to the Mozyr refinery,” Sizov said.

The problem with the quality of oil coming from Russia to Europe across Belarus via the Druzhba pipeline appeared in April 2019. In Belarus, the pipeline splits into two stings, of which one goes to Poland and Germany, and the other to Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary.

Sizov said that Belarusian refineries are loaded by 50% and will refine about 1.8 million tonnes of oil in January–February, the official said. “Oil refineries are working at about half of their capacity. The domestic market needs are fully met, we see no preconditions for oil product sales disruption. The situation is stable and predictable,” he said.

Belarus plans to start oil shipments to the refineries by the Odessa–Brody pipeline in March, he said.

Russia and Belarus have so far failed to agree on the prices and volumes of oil supplies. Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko reiterated that the country was looking for alternative oil supplies, including reverse supplies of American or Saudi oil through Poland via Druzhba, in the absence of an all-encompassing deal with Russia.

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