Syamashka: We are holding different negotiations

• 17.02.2012, 11:34

The deputy prime minister of Belarus considers it possible to sell Belarusian oil pipelines.

“We are holding different negotiations. Of course, we have lots of ideas. Different buyers are possible, not only from Russia,” Uladzimir Syamashka said Friday to Interfax-Zapad news agency.

The deputy PM admitted the issue had not been discussed seriously yet. “But I think it's a matter of time,” he said.

According to Syamashka, “This pipe [the Belarusian oil pipeline – Interfax] is not new and we need to take into account the Baltic Pipeline System and the Baltic Pipeline System-2.” “We need to think how to use the existing facilities effectively,” the deputy PM noted.

“Our northmen pipeline [Navapolatsk Druzhba pipeline – Interfax] has been standing idle since 2008,” he reminded. “It must not be so. Its capacity is about 37mn tonnes per year, but today it is used only for delivering oil to the Navapolatsk refinery (Naftan refinery),” the Belarusian deputy PM said.