Minsk, Moscow agree on oil refining terms
October 15, Pozirk. Belarus and Russia have agreed on oil refining terms, Prime Minister Alaksandar Turčyn told state media journalists after meeting with Alaksandar Łukašenka today.
The deal will enable Belarus’ oil refineries to operate with profit, he said.
He noted that oil refining was discussed in the context of “the oil market situation” in neighboring countries.
Turčyn pointed out that domestic oil supply was stable and no shortages were expected.
Russia is set to increase fuel imports from Belarus amid shortages caused by Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian energy infrastructure.
On October 1, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak asked Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to increase gasoline imports from Belarus to 300,000 tons in October, according to Kommersant. Belarus supplied 45,000 tons of fuel to Russia in September. Novak proposed increasing imports through the Transneft pipeline and refining oil in Belarus as part of a “give-and-take” arrangement.
Drone attacks on refineries—some deep inside Russian territory—surged in August and remained elevated throughout September, according to the BBC. Since January, 21 of Russia’s 38 large refineries have been hit, with successful strikes already 48-percent higher than the total number in 2024. Reuters reported that Ukrainian strikes have disrupted at least 17 percent of Russia’s oil refining capacity, and some regions have resorted to fuel rationing.
Moscow mobilizes Łukašenka to save Russia’s “gas pump”
Russia is set to increase fuel imports from Belarus amid shortages caused by Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian energy infrastructure. Belarus' two refineries will need to operate at full capacity and sell fuel at low profit margins—if they are able …
