Naftan plans to process 240,000 tons of Venezuelan oil monthly starting in September

July 31, Novopolotsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Naftan OJSC plans to process 160 thousand tons of Venezuelan "Santa Barbara" grade oil in August, the enterprise's General Director Vyacheslav Yakushev informed journalists today, BELTA correspondent reports. From September until the end of the current year, the processing volume of Latin American hydrocarbon raw materials will increase to 240 thousand tons per month. Naftan OJSC has carried out a set of preparatory works for receiving oil in such volumes. According to Vyacheslav Yakushev, the enterprise will begin processing Venezuelan oil in the coming days. Based on the results of work for January-June of the current year, Naftan OJSC processed 3.8 million tons of hydrocarbon raw materials. Profitability was 4.2%. As the General Director noted, due to changes in oil supplies from Russia in the first quarter, the enterprise experienced difficulties, but by the end of the first half-year, the situation stabilized. According to him, Venezuelan oil supplies will strengthen Naftan's financial and economic position. An agreement on Venezuelan oil supplies to Belarus was signed in March of the current year. According to the agreements of the presidents of the two countries, the total volume of its supply should be about 4 million tons over 12 months. The Novopolotsk oil refinery Naftan was commissioned in 1963 and is part of the Belneftekhim concern. The plant specializes in the production of fuel and oil products, producing more than 70 items, including oils, gasoline, and diesel fuel of Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards. About 70% of the products are supplied to CIS countries, the European Union, the Middle East, and the USA. At the end of 2008, Polimir OJSC joined Naftan OJSC, and a petrochemical complex was created. -0-