MINSK, 8 December (BelTA) – The House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus has passed a bill on ratifying the Belarusian-Russian intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in shipping and transshipping oil products originating from the Republic of Belarus and intended for export to third countries via sea ports of the Russian Federation, BelTA has learned.
The bill was brought into the lower chamber of the Belarusian parliament by the Council of Ministers on 8 September. It was developed for the sake of ratifying the Belarusian-Russian intergovernmental agreement, which was signed in Moscow on 19 February 2021.
Belarusian First Deputy Transport and Communications Minister Aleksei Lyakhnovich explained that the agreement provides for specifying prices for shipping to Russian Federation sea ports depending on comparable prices for shipping to Baltic Sea ports and an algorithm for adjusting the prices.
The agreement specifies terms and the procedure for organizing cooperation in the field of railroad transportation through the territory of Belarus and Russia of oil products, which originate from the Republic of Belarus and are supposed to be exported to third countries, and the transshipment of these oil products via northwest sea ports of the Russian Federation.
In line with article 2 the Belarusian Transport and Communications Ministry and the Russian Transport Ministry will coordinate the implementation of the agreement. The competent bodies are the Belarusian Antimonopoly Regulation and Trade Ministry (in matters concerning tariffs on transportation by rail), the Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim (in matters concerning the volume of shipment of oil products), the Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service (in matters concerning tariffs on transportation by rail), and the Russian Energy Ministry (in matters concerning the choice and volumes of oil products, which are intended for shipping and transshipping).
A joint commission made up of representatives of the coordinating bodies and the competent bodies, representatives of other agencies and organizations will be established to address issues concerning the implementation of the agreement.
The bill's adoption will allow organizing cooperation with Russian commercial entities in shipping and transshipping oil products originating from the Republic of Belarus and will enable the export of Belarusian oil products.
The bill has been found compliant with the Constitution, Belarusian laws, regulatory acts of the president, international agreements and treaties. The bill has been found compatible with Belarus' legislation.
Member of the Budget and Finance Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Sergei Stelmashok said: “The agreement will stay in effect till the end of 2023. The volume of deliveries will exceed 10 million tonnes. It is an adequate response to European sanctions.”
