Belarus Began Norwegian Oil Buying Amid Conflict with Russia

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Failing to agree on oil price with Moscow Belarus found Norway as an alternative supplier. In January, Belarusian oil company BNK will buy a batch of Norwegian oil produced at the Johan Sverdrup field. Norwegian oil will be delivered to Belarus via the Lithuanian port of Klaipeda, stated Reuters, on Sunday night, January 20. It is expected that the Norwegian tanker Breiviken, loaded with 80,000 tons of oil arrives in Klaipeda on January 22. From there, oil will be delivered to the Novopolotsk Refinery (Naftan) by rail. According to Reuters, after receiving the first batch of fuel, the Belarusian side is going to continue negotiations on further deliveries. Norwegian oil is consistent with Urals brand for Belarus At the same time, the Belarusian the railway supply of oil from Klaipeda to the Novopolotsk refinery will cost Minsk about $ 20 per ton, which is much more expensive than transporting fuel through pipelines, Tut.by writes Presumably, the French company Total is to sell the oil. At the time of publication this company representatives, however, did not comment on the corresponding request of the DW journalists. Oil imports due to disagreements with Russia The deal was concluded amid disagreements between Moscow and Minsk over energy prices, because of which Russia cut off oil supplies to Belarus in early January. Belarus imports annually 23-24 million tons of Russian oil with a total Russian export of 250 million tons. Up to 6 million, according to experts, go to the needs of the Belarusian economy, the rest - for processing and resale on international markets. Development of the Johan Sverdrup oil field began in Norway on January 7. Its official opening was attended by Prime Minister Erna Solberg. The oil produced at the Johan Sverdrup field is comparable in quality to the Russian brand of export oil mix Urals (Urals), Reuters informs. Dispute between Russia and Belarus over oil prices On January 1, 2020, Russia ceased the Belarus oil supply, indicating as a formal reason the lack of contracts between the Belarusian side and the Russian state-owned companies Rosneft and  Gazprom Neft. The disagreement was also caused by Belarus’s claim to reduce compensation in connection with the Russian tax maneuver in the oil industry, as a result of which the Belarusian refineries suffered significant losses. The authorities in Minsk emphasize that Belarus is an important consumer for Russia: it accounts for about 10 percent of Russian oil exports. Belarus had sent out its commercial purchase oil offers to enterprises in Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic countries, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, announced First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Dmitry Krutoy on Tuesday, January 14.