Belarus will continue negotiations on being fully compensated for losses it suffered due to poor-quality oil delivered by Russia, Uladzimir Sizou, Deputy Chairman of Belarusian state petrochemical company Belneftekhim said on September, 17.
According to him, the damage fixed was partially covered, but there are still unresolved questions regarding the loss of transit revenues, the underutilization of oil refineries’ capacity and the damage caused on the equipment.
The sum of compensation will be set in the course of the negotiations with the Russian side, the top official said.
On April 19, Belneftekhim reported on a sharp deterioration in the quality of the Russian oil coming through the Druzhba pipeline. The number of organochlorine compounds in the oil was many times higher than the limit.
Both Belarusian refineries – Mazyr and Naftan – then reduced capacity utilization and suffered losses, as well as damage to the pipeline system.
According to Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Ihar Lyashenka, the cost of oil-damaged equipment at the Mazyr refinery alone is about $30 million.
