Belarus likely to import Venezuelan oil in 2013

If Belarus is unable to import all the oil it needs, it will rely on Venezuela and Azerbaijan to supply its refineries

In 2010-2011 Belarus met oil domestic demand buying oil from Venezuela (Photo: Reuters)

EL UNIVERSAL

Tuesday November 27, 2012 03:54 PM

Belarus will probably resort to Venezuela and Azerbaijan to import petroleum next year if it is unable to get 4-5 million additional tons from Russia, its main supplier, Russian President Alexander Lukashenko said.

Belarus is seeking 23 million tons of oil from Russia next year for its refineries, yet Russia has offered to sell no more than 18 million tons, fewer than the total number traded this year (21.5 million).

"If we do not reach an agreement, it will be ok. There is plenty of oil in the world. A few years ago, Russia refused to supply oil to Belarus (...) and we imported it (All the oil we needed) from Azerbaijan and Venezuela, the leader remarked adding that Belarus could repeat such actions.

A dispute between Russia and Belarus over oil price made the latter import oil from Azerbaijan and Venezuela in 2010-2011.

Translated by Jhean Cabrera

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