Belstat reveals cost of Venezuelan oil - $656 per ton

As a comparison, cost of oil imported from Russia is $398 per ton.

According to the data of the National statistics committee, in May 2010 Belarus imported 79.8 thousand tons of oil from non-CIS countries at the cost of $656 per ton, AFN informs.

We remind that Belarus has received the first crude oil tanker from Venezuela. The authorities did not reveal the cost of Venezuelan oil, just stating that its refining is cost-effective.

“The country sells oil in Venezuela “at a good price”. Buying Russian oil with 100% of duty, Belarus sustains a loss, and gains with Venezuelan oil. We have made money out of the oil imported from Venezuela, and it is a plus, not a minus,” said first Vice Prime Minister of Belarus Uladzimir Syamashka just two weeks ago.

As a comparison, the cost of oil imported from Russia is $398 per ton, according to the Ministry of Statistics of Belarus.

According to agreements between Alyaksandr Lukashenka and Hugo Chavez, Minsk plans to buy 4 million tons of oil in 2010 and 10 million in 2011.

Arrival of the fourth tanker of Venezuelan oil (about 80 thousand tons) to Odessa port is expected on July 17. Like the three others, the tanker of oil will be refined at Mozyr refinery. The fifth tanker is to arrive to Belarus via Estonia in the third ten-day period of July and refined by Naftan.