BelaPAN: Belarus will receive 30 million tons of Venezuelan oil

As a result of the visit of the president of Venezuela Hugo Chavez to Belarus a number of key documents have been signed.

As BelaPAN reports, a key agreement which has been reached as a result of negotiations is concerning the volume of Venezuelan oil deliveries to Belarus.

The talk is about the contract between the close corporation “Belarusian oil company” and the company “Petróleos de Venezuela” for delivery of oil to Belarus in the years of 2011— 2013. A source, close to negotiations, informed BelaPAN that annual deliveries of Venezuelan oil will make up about 10 mln tons.

Besides, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by RUE Production Association “Belorusneft” and the stock-company “Venezuelan Oil Corporation” about the joining fields to the oil production joint venture “Petrolera BeloVenesolana”.

Additionally, the Charter of the Joint Venture stock company “Servicio BeloVenesolana” which will be drilling and repairing wells in Venezuela has been signed.

The signed documents are important for the official Minsk from the view point of provision of oil refinery enterprises of Belarus with raw materials. The contract on delivery of 10 mln tons of oil in the years of 2011 – 2013 will allow to cover almost half of oil demand of Belarusian oil refinery plants.

At the same time deliveries of Russian oil to Belarus are decreasing. According to the data of Naviny.By, this year they will be pared down by a third. If last year Belarus received from Russia 21,5 mln tons of oil, this year, as it is expected, our country will purchase only about 14 mln tons of Russian hydrocarbon raw materials.

At present the Belarusian government is holding negotiations with the Russian side about the conditions of oil deliveries next year. Belarus is asking Russia to increase the volume of duty-free oil in the year of 2011. Russia has not made a decision on this issue.