Oil talks went into dead end

The Ministry of Energy of Russia took a time-out on the talks over the oil shipments to Belarus.

The state secretary of the Union State Grigori Rapota stated that to BelTA.

“The Ministry of Energy of Russia took a time-out, since there is a need to have additional negotiations with Belarusian colleagues, - Grigori Rapota said. – But a firm promise was given today that the fuel balance will be signed shortly”.

At the meeting the issue was also discussed of the building of a Belarusian nuclear power plant. “This issue is purely technical, the power plant is being built and it will be financed. The issue of a loan and the loan pledges was discussed today”, - the state secretary specified.

A Belarusian delegation took place in the meeting headed by the co-chairman of high level group, chairman of the board of the Bank of the Republic of Belarus’ Development Siarhei Rumas. On the Russian side the co-chairman was the first vice-Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov.

We would remind that the Belarusian authorities have not yet managed to reach an agreement over the volume of oil imports from Russia in 2013. The volume was only agreed for the first quarter. The Belarusian party requires 23 million tons of oil in 2013, the Russian party only stated the readiness to ship 18.5 million tons considering the necessity to load the BTS-2 oil pipeline.