Over the recent months, Russian oil supplies to Belarus has been significantly cut. According to statistical data, in July the delivery was 20% less than that of June.
The Russian side has already made a decision to reduce from Q4 2018 on, news agency BelaPAN reports with reference to its sources. Belarus is expected to receive as much raw material as needed to meet domestic demands. Interestingly, the interstate draft decision provides that the Belarusians should justify these needs.
The two countries are negotiating the terms of oil and oil products trade. It is highly likely that the issue will be tackled at the upcoming meeting of Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Vladimir Putin on September, 21.
In August, Reuters reported that Russia intended to cut supplies of duty free oil and gas to Belarus in Q4 2018 referring to ‘budget losses’.
Reuters’ information about the suspension of loan disbursements and the possible blockade of oil supplies may be just a means of pressure on Minsk. In January-May 2018, Belarus has received 18 mln tons of Russian oil. According to Russian-Belarusian agreements, Minsk has the right to export 6 mln tons abroad. The conditions of oil trade are so favourable for Belarus that the raw material goes from Russia duty-free. And instead of the Federation’s budget, the Russian export duty goes to Alyaksandr Lukashenka’s cash office. In total, $2.5 bn, or even 5% ofBelarusian GDP. In practice, this is a kind of Moscow subsidizing and buying Belarusian authorities’ loyalty. But the authorities began to trespass. According to the Russian oilers, the Belarusian side re-export Russian oil (as well as liquid gas) to the West via the Baltic countries and Ukraine with the help of shady companies. Since the beginning of the year, the Belarusian re-export has tripled and according to the Russians, it has exceeded the agreed limits.
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.СК, belsat.eu
