Russia can deprive Belarus part of duty-free oil 16

A new conflict between Belarusian and Russian authorities is looming because of increased cost of oil transit.

The volume of Russian oil delivered to Belarus for home consumption can be decreased by a corresponding equivalent in case the country would impose new customs duties or analogous payments for transit from Russia. As informed by “Interfax”, it is stated by the protocol approved by Russian government which makes changes in the agreement between Russia and Belarus in the sphere of oil and oil products export of January 12, 2007.

As it was informed, the additional agreement to the intergovernmental agreement of January 2007 on terms of oil trade was signed in Moscow on January 27, 2010. According to the document, 6.3 million tons of oil are to be delivered to Belarus this year, for the rest 15.2 million out of the balance 21.5 million tons 100% of duty is to be included.

According to the document, the volume of home consumption of Russian oil in Belarus each year is corrected before October 1 considering the actual changes in the oil, manufacturing and consumption of oil products in the country. Besides, volumes and items of oil products produced from Russian oil as give and take raw materials and delivered to Russia are taken in consideration.

The volume of home consumption of Russian oil in Belarus for the next years is coordinated with relevant authorities: the Energy Ministry of Russia, the Economy Ministry of Belarus and the state oil and chemical products concern “Belneftekhim” before October 1 each year.

It is also said in the protocol that customs agencies of the both states are to strike an agreement before March 1, 2010 on the order of information exchange on oil exports from the territory of Belarus to third countries.

In 2007-2009 oil was delivered to Belarus with a special export duty included in its cost (35.6% of standard export duty in 2009), which was an equivalent of Belarusian export duties for oil products transferred to Russian budget (85% in 2009), which size was equal to the Russian level.

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