Belarus, Russia discuss transit tariffs in oil talks
Belarus and Russia have to agree on "one and a half issues" in the bilateral talks over crude oil supplies, reports the official news agency BELTA. The negotiations are now focusing on the rate of oil transit via the territory of Belarus. The talks are talking place in Moscow between the delegations headed by Belarus' first deputy prime minister Uladzimir Syamashka and Russia' vice prime minister Igor Sechin.
Belarus insists that the tariff for pumping the Russian oil via Belarus should be raised by 25-30% to match the level of tariffs in Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Russia has so far accepted the transit tariff increase within 10-11%.
At the same time, the sides have agreed on the volume of the Russian oil to be supplied to Belarus duty-free. This figure will be revised annually. Besides, Russia agreed earlier not to apply export duties to the oil that will be refined in Belarus and then supplied back to Russia as petrochemical products.
Belarus insists that the tariff for pumping the Russian oil via Belarus should be raised by 25-30% to match the level of tariffs in Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Russia has so far accepted the transit tariff increase within 10-11%.
At the same time, the sides have agreed on the volume of the Russian oil to be supplied to Belarus duty-free. This figure will be revised annually. Besides, Russia agreed earlier not to apply export duties to the oil that will be refined in Belarus and then supplied back to Russia as petrochemical products.
