Supplies of Russian oil to Belarusian refineries have begun

January 25, Minsk / Anna Kot - BELTA /. Deliveries of Russian oil to Belarusian refineries have begun, the BELTA correspondent was informed at the Belneftekhim concern. Negotiations on the terms of supply of Russian oil to Belarus were completed today in Moscow. Their result was the conclusion of contracts for the supply of oil raw materials between Belarusian oil refineries and Russian oil companies. According to the draft fuel and energy balance of the Union State of Belarus and Russia for 2011, agreed upon by the parties in December 2010, 21.7 million tons of oil can be supplied to Belarus this year, including 18 million tons by pipeline transport. Since January 1, 2011, Belarus should receive Russian oil and petroleum products without duties and without volume restrictions. This is provided for by the Agreement on the procedure for payment and crediting of export customs duties (other duties, taxes and fees having equivalent effect) when exporting crude oil and certain categories of goods produced from oil from the territory of Belarus outside the customs territory of the Customs Union. The Agreement on the formation of a Single Economic Space was signed by the heads of state of the Customs Union on December 9, 2010. The document was ratified by the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus on December 21 and approved by the Council of the Republic on December 22, 2010. The Agreement establishes new terms for the supply of oil and petroleum products to Belarus. Issues of collection and transfer to the budget of Russia of export customs duties when exporting crude oil and certain goods from hydrocarbon raw materials from the territory of Belarus outside the Customs Union have been resolved. The Belarusian State Concern for Oil and Chemistry "Belneftekhim" unites more than 60 organizations. It accounts for over 30% of Belarus's industrial production. The concern's enterprises produce more than 500 types of petrochemical and chemical products. About 70% of the products manufactured are exported to more than 100 countries. -0-