BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
08/01/2010
Minsk weighing oil options with Russia
MOSCOW, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Belarusian negotiators left Moscow for Minsk to consider pricing mechanisms for Russian oil deliveries, Russian energy officials said.
Irina Yesipova, an aide for Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko, said Belarusian officials left for Minsk to consider oil transit rates for 2010, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reports.
"The representatives of the Belarusian delegation intend to fly to Minsk for consultations to clarify details," she said. "It's possible the negotiations will be remote in nature for some time."
Belarus blamed Moscow for complicating negotiations for 2010 prices and suggested progress would slow while Minsk considers its options.
In 2009, Belarus received roughly 25 million tons of crude oil from Russian reserves, though the bulk of those exports were slated for transmission to Eastern European markets.
Belarus received discounts on Russian oil imports in 2009. Moscow said it would consider concessions for Minsk in 2010 but not for its oil bound for European markets.
The pricing conflict between Russia and Belarus concerned European oil consumers still reeling from a January 2009 row between Kiev and Moscow over gas prices and debt. Europe was left in the cold for weeks because of that dispute.
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