Republic

Belarus to earn about $50 million additionally per year through higher oil transit tariffs

By raising oil transit tariffs Belarus will earn about $50 million additionally per year, director of Belarusian pipeline operator Gomeltransneft Druzhba Aleksei Kostyuchenko told today’s press conference, commenting on the economy ministry’s decision to raise the domestic oil transit tariffs by 31.6-34.6% starting February 15. He noted, Belarus had had the lowest oil transit tariffs in the entire post-Soviet space. Following a proposal of Gomeltransneft Druzhba the tariffs have been raised to match the level of Russian domestic tariffs. The relative tariff has been increased from $0.41 to $0.6 for 1 tonne per 100 kilometres. The absolute tariff depends on the pipeline run, specified Aleksei Kostyuchenko. In his words, for a long time the tariffs were low as a manifestation of “loyalty” within the framework of the Union State creation. Yet the oil transit cost increased, energy consumption swelled, too. Over the last six years the oil transportation volume via the Belarusian oil pipeline soared by 50%. Every year Gomeltransneft Druzhba spends over $50 million on retooling oil pipeline facilities. The Gomeltransneft Druzhba director stressed, the decision to revise the tariffs had been taken in line with the contract for rendering services to Transneft company. The Russian company was notified about the decision on time and was forwarded a corresponding supplementary contract for the effective agreement. The necessary adjustments are to be made within 10 days. However, according to Aleksei Kostyuchenko, the Russian company will present no arguments concerning the adopted tariffs. Transneft company has already made the necessary adjustments. Soon the documents will be endorsed by all vice-presidents of the company. Aleksei Kostyuchenko reminded, every year Gomeltransneft Druzhba pumps around 80 million tonnes of oil, which makes 30-33% of the total Russian oil export.