Belarus threatens to cut Russian electric energy transit
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14:43, — Economics
Belenergo power company says it may halt Russian electric energy transit to the Kaliningrad region.
“Russian energy companies FGC UES and INTER RAO UES from the Russian party and the Belarusian party have not agreed upon terms of electric energy transition through Belarus to the Kaliningrad region and commercial supplies to the Baltic states. Nevertheless, Russia continues to transit energy. As of January 4, 2010, the volume of non-approved transit amounted to 39.5 million kWh,” the republican unitary enterprise ODU, a part of Belenergo company said Monday, Interfax reports.
“These actions by the Russian party make the Belarusian party consider measures on halting non-approved commercial transmission of energy through the Belarusian power networks that will imperil reliable energy supplies to consumers in the Kaliningrad region, including supplies to public,” Belenergo says.
As the website charter97.org has already informed, an oil scandal broke out in the beginning of 2010.
Belarus and Russia failed to sign an agreement on oil supplies by December 30–31. Russia announced it would export oil to Belarus with 100% of customs duties from January 1. In 2009, Belarus paid 35.6% of the standard customs duties in 2009.
In response, the Belarusian government stated Russia was pressing on the country in oil supplies negotiations. However, the both parties confirmed the talks would be continued.
Talks on oil were resumed on January 2, Iryna Esipova, the aide for the Russian minister of energy, confirmed January 3. “Transporting is done in full measure, the process of negotiations is continued at the moment,” she said to journalists refusing to reveal details.
On the same day Vice President of Transneft company Mikhail Barkov stated that Russia would cut down volumes of oil transit via Belarus under no circumstances. As for oil deliveries to the Belarusian side, everything depends on the position of Minsk in this situation, he added.
However, Reuters informs referring to Russian oil traders that Russia halted oil flow to Belarusian refineries since 2010. This information was denied by Maryna Kastsyuchenka, a representative of Belneftekhim.
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