Myasnikovich ordered to discuss oil supplies

The Belarusian ruler has ordered the government head to hold talks with Russia on oil supplies.

Minsk stands against monopolisation of oil export to Belarus by Russia's big oil companies, Interfax news agency learnt on Tuesday from a source in the government.

“The prime minister has been ordered to negotiate on the Russian oil supplies for this year, but there are no particular talks on the issue yet,” the source noted.

The prime minister is said to have been put in charge of Belneftekhim company. The company was earlier supervised by deputy prime minister Uladzimir Syamashka, who has been heading Belarusian delegations on energy talks for the last few years.

The source has a pessimistic view on reaching an agreement on oil deliveries in the nearest future. “I think the problems won't be solved until the meeting of the presidents scheduled for March 15,” he said.

Interfax's source noted the Belarusian government are not happy with the plans of Russia's five biggest companies to get the priority right to oil deliveries to Belarus. The government opposes this decision of the Russian authorities. “We will strongly object to these plans. We don't need this monopolism. It's not profitable for us to give our capacities,” the source from the government says.