Lukashenko orders Belarusian government to arrange for oil deliveries via Baltic ports

  • 2019-01-11
  • LETA/RBK/Interfax/TBT Staff

MINSK - Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko on Thursday ordered his government to arrange for oil to be delivered via Baltic states’ ports.

“The task was set long ago, we must resolve the issue: to start the alternative delivery of oil via Baltic ports. If Lithuanians do not agree, we must come to terms with Latvians and purchase this oil. We can process this oil at Novopolotsk Oil Refinery and supply oil products to Baltic countries,” Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting on Belarus’ social and economic development in 2019.

The Belarusian president said the Baltic states would be able to purchase the oil products at lower prices than on the world market.

“We can agree that this will be our common oil which we will process at the modernized Novopolotsk Oil Refinery. By the way we have certain capabilities in this regard,” Alexander Lukashenko said.

Belarus is looking to redirect its oil deliveries to the Baltics as Russia is phasing out its export duty which has so been subsidizing Belarus’ energy sector.