Russia Refuses To Pay Belarus’ Price For Oil Transit

Belarus and Russia have failed to agree on oil transit prices for 2017 again.

The Federal Anti-Monopoly Service of Russia and the Ministry for Anti-Monopoly Regulation and Trade of Belarus couldn’t agree on the tariffs for transporting oil at the Belarusian territory in 2017. In compliance with the set regulations, the price for transit in this case will grow to the level of the Russian inflation forecast +3%, RIA Novosti has been reported by the press-center of the Russian Anti-Monopoly Service.

The Ministry for Anti-Monopoly Regulation and Trade of Belarus informed on January 5 that they had not yet agreed on the new tariffs for oil transit. The institution’s resolution dated December 30 stated that the prices increase would happen in February-March 2017.

«On December 28, the FAS of Russia and the Belarusian Ministry conducted a consensus meeting. No agreements were reached. As a result, the regulation of the intergovernmental protocol will be followed. Under it, the price for transit in this case will grow to the level of the Russian inflation forecast +3%,” — the FAS representative informed. The base forecast of the Ministry for the Economic Development with regard to the inflation in Russia for the year 2017 makes 4%.

Minsk announced intention to increase the tariffs for pumping oil through its pipelines by 20,5%. “Transneft” thought this increase was excessive and started negotiations with the Belarusian oil-transporting enterprises. The Russian side forwarded to Minsk the offers to increase tariffs up to the economically-grounded level: for the services of the OJSC “Homeltransneft Druzhba” — by 5,8%, the OJSC “Polatsktransneft Druzhba”— by 11,76%.

The representative of “Belneftehim” informed on December 28 that Belarus and Russia continued negotiations on re-consideration of tariffs for transporting the Russian oil through the Belarusian territory.