Lukashenka Instructs To Sign Oil Contracts With Russia In Nearest Hours, Also To Start Alternative Supplies

(updated) The rulers of Belarus and the Russian Federation failed to agree on power resources.

Ruler of Belarus Aliaksandr Lukashenka held a meeting on December 31 with the leadership of the petrochemical complex on the topic of oil supplies and refining. BelTA was informed about it by the press-center of the Belarusian dictator.

The dictator noted that he invited the meeting participants to specifically discuss relevant issues in the context of the telephone conversations with Vladimir Putin, held on December 30 and 31.

Following the meeting, Chairman of the Belneftekhim concern Andrei Rybakou said that, in the development of telephone conversations, Aliaksandr Lukashenka instructed to complete negotiations between business entities of Belarus and Russia in the coming hours and conclude contracts for the supply of oil to the country in order to ensure uninterrupted operation of two oil refineries.

The ruler also instructed to ensure the supply of oil from alternative sources in the coming days. First of all, we are talking about deliveries by rail from ports in the Baltic region, as well as the use of the Druzhba pipeline for alternative supplies.

According to BelTA, Lukashenka phoned Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. They talked about the lack of contracts for the supply of oil and gas from Russia to Belarus next year. Allegedly, an agreement was reached “on the organization of specific work on the supply of hydrocarbons to Belarus” (that is, without contracts). However, after that Lukashenka called the Minister of Energy of Russia Alexander Novak. He took charge of the problem and discussed “specific schedules and companies” that will supply oil to our country.