Belneftekhim considering cooperation with Lithuania's Butinge port

Belneftekhim concern is considering the possibility to organize the alternative oil supplies to Belarus through Lithuania's Butinge port, Belneftekhim Deputy Chairman Vladimir Volkov told a press conference in Minsk on September 3.

With a view to diversifying energy supplies to the country, the Belarusian side is studying the possibility to organize alternative oil supplies to Belarus provided it is economically reasonable. “At present we are holding consultations with our partners who operate ports and oil pipelines in different countries, including the Baltic states,” Vladimir Volkov noted.

Until 2003, the Belarusian oil pipelines carried Russian oil to Latvia’s Ventspils and until 2006 to Mazeikiu nafta oil refinery and Butinge port (Lithuania). After this transit was discontinued, Mazeikiai Crude Oil Refinery started getting oil via Butinge port in the reverse regime. “The oil pipe line from Butinge port to Mazeikiu nafta oil refinery is a reverse one. No significant technical revamping is needed to make this pipeline carry oil to Novopolotsk in the reverse regime,” Vladimir Volkov explained. According to him, some measures can be additionally introduced to increase oil receiving capacities of Butinge port. In this case, the crude oil can be provided both for Mazeikiu nafta and Naftan.

He underlined that this project can be implemented provided it is economically efficient.

Talking about the transit capacities of Belneftekhim, Vladimir Volkov noted that the oil pipelines are in a good condition and are ready to build up transit capacities. In January-July 2008, 45.5 million tonnes of oil was transported via the territory of Belarus which makes up 86.1% as against the same period of 2007. The transit of Russian oil via Belarus to Poland and Germany is falling because the Russian oil companies rechanneled oil transit to Primorsky port. The Belarusian side is making efforts to create attractive conditions for oil transit through Belarus.