Belarus expects to import 23 mln tonnes of oil, 22.2 bcm of gas in 2014
MINSK. Oct 31 (Interfax) - Belarus expects to import 23 million tonnes of oil and 22.2 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas from Russia in 2014, Belarusian First Deputy Economic Development Minister Anatoly Filonov said.
"We are counting on 23 million tonnes of oil in 2014. For gas, roughly 22.2 bcm," Filonov told journalists in Minsk on Thursday.
Belarus has received from the Russian Energy Ministry an invitation to visit Moscow next week to discuss fulfilling the fuel balance for 2013, with a an expected reevaluation of delivery volume factored in. After the balance is agreed, the two countries will move to a discussion of the delivery balance for 2014.
Filonov said that Belarus will not receive the 23 million tonnes of oil indicated in the balance from Russia this year.
Last month, Belarus did not receive 400,000 tonnes of oil from Russia due to less crude being transported via the Druzhba pipeline, he said. "We did not receive certain amounts of oil in September and October. In fact, 400,000 tonnes was not received in September," he said.
Expectations are that the volume of under-receipt in October will be substantially less, as Belarus has been able this month to significantly increase oil delivery volume by railroad, Filonov said.
During the meeting with Russian Energy Ministry representatives next week, Belarus is looking to "justify the need to fulfill the balance in full measures in November and December of this year,' he said.
