MOSCOW, 21 May (BelTA) – There are no unresolved issues between Belarus and Russia which could hamper the implementation of the roadmap worked out to regulate the situation with oil supplies, Chairman of Belneftekhim Concern Andrei Rybakov told BelTA as he commented on the oil talks held in Moscow on 20 May.
“There are no unsettled issues which restrain us from moving along this roadmap. There are only technicalities,” said Andrei Rybakov.
The negotiations took place at the Russian company Transneft with the participation of Russian Deputy Minister of Energy Pavel Sorokin. “The major issue on the agenda included a roadmap which was announced on 19 May to replace polluted Russian oil with the one meeting all necessary quality standards both on transit routes and for Belarusian consumers. The basic technical scenario of the roadmap remained intact. The parties discussed technicalities. In such a non-routine event any emerging issues require permanent control from both the government bodies and economic entities,” Andrei Rybakov said.
According to the Belneftekhim chairman, the parties once again compared notes on the roadmap. “Belarus has been implementing it since 19 May. Its first stage envisages the preparation of all necessary legal instruments and agreements. Our specialists are working on them. I think we will be able to do it in time. The roadmap defined by Vice Premiers of Belarus and Russia Igor Lyashenko and Dmitry Kozak is under implementation,” he said.
Speaking about the oil supplies to Naftan which is still half-loaded, Andrei Rybakov stressed: “The roadmap covers gradual loading of Naftan and includes the corresponding annual business plan. We hope that the plant will resume its full operation soon.”
Speaking about the resumption of Russian oil transit to Europe, the Belneftekhim chairman stated that the matter depends not only on Belarus. “For our part, we are ready to use all the technical capabilities and know how to do this. The matter mainly concerns the neighboring countries and their capacities. We are waiting for the appropriate measures to resume transit,” said Andrei Rybakov.
