MINSK, 17 November (BelTA) – Belarus will tell Russia the final sum of losses caused by the polluted oil situation in early December, BelTA learned from Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Igor Lyashenko on 17 November.
According to the source, the major overhaul of Mozyr Oil Refinery is nearing completion. This is why the sums will be specified in November – December. “I am not going to specify the figures yet, but all of them are reliable. This work will be finished in early December and the figures will be forwarded to the Russian side,” Igor Lyashenko said. He reminded that once the major overhaul at Mozyr Oil Refinery is over, it will be clear what equipment has been damaged and by how much.
The official also remarked that the export of Belarusian oil previously disrupted by the polluted oil situation had been restored. Belorusneft now exports the amounts of oil it is supposed to. “We will calculate economic losses depending on market prices,” Igor Lyashenko added.
Speaking about the modernization of oil refineries, Igor Lyashenko noted that the polluted oil situation does not directly affect it. “The work proceeds routinely. We closely follow the work of our construction workers,” he remarked.
BelTA reported earlier that on 19 April Belneftekhim registered a massive decrease in the quality of the Russian oil mixture Urals coming via the oil pipeline system Druzhba. The concentration of chlororganic compounds in oil exceeded standard thresholds dozens of times over. Both Belarusian oil refineries – OAO Naftan and Mozyr Oil Refinery – were forced to reduce their workload and suffered financial losses. Damage was also caused to the pipeline system.
