MINSK, 29 July (BelTA) - After the agreement on oil is signed in the Eurasian Economic Union, Belarus' energy security will improve, Chairman of the Belarusian state petrochemical concern Belneftekhim Andrei Rybakov said as he met with Arzybek Kozhoshev, the member of the Board - Minister in Charge of Energy and Infrastructure of the Eurasian Economic Commission, in Minsk on 29 July, BelTA has learned.
The parties considered issues related to the preparation of a draft agreement on the common markets for oil and petroleum products in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) consisting of Armenia, Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
At the working meeting with Arzybek Kozhoshev and Director of the EEC Energy Department Vadim Zakrevsky Andrei Rybakov discussed a number of unresolved issues, taking into account the interests of all EAEU member states. "The conditions for Belarus should not worsen in comparison with the current ones. Moreover, the energy security of the Republic of Belarus should improve as a result of the oil agreement," Andrei Rybakov emphasized.
“This is the only position possible here. We emphasize the principle of prioritizing the needs of EAEU member states in oil and oil products. We recognize that each country's national needs will always have priority. Another pending issue in our negotiations is to spell out technical capacities for oil transportation. Since it may neutralize any agreements on oil supplies, we urge our partners to make this definition as specific as possible.
According to Arzybek Kozhoshev, the agreement has been put on the agenda of the EEC Board meeting on 16 August, after which it will be sent to the EEC Council, which will convene for a meeting in Moscow on 19 August. Further on the agreement will be discussed by the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council during a meeting in Cholpon-Ata on 25-26 August. Some issues need to be solved before the meeting.
In broad terms, the EAEU member countries are to coordinate action on the effective use of the fuel and energy complexes.
