NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — An agreement on supplying Kazakh oil to Belarus may be signed early next year, Belarus’ BelTA news agency reported on December 6 with reference to Kazakh Deputy Energy Minister Asset Magauov.
“Instead of ready-made oil products Belarus is more interested in raw materials for processing and consequently making ready-made products. This is why I don’t think they are interested in our gasoline. The total amount mentioned during talks is close to 3.2 million tons,” the Kazakh official said.
In his words, a consensus has already been reached. “We have to complete intrastate procedures now, get things approved by other ministries. The necessary expert evaluations need to be done. Only then we will be able to sign the agreement. Once we come to terms on the volumes with the Belarusian side, we will be able to talk about delivery routes and talk to colleagues from Russia,” the Kazakh deputy energy minister said.
Magauov also spoke about the probable timeframe when the oil supply agreement may be signed. “If we complete our intrastate procedures and expert evaluations rather fast, we will have to get the approval from the Justice Ministry and an expert evaluation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the end. I think all of it will have to take at least a month,” he said.
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko mentioned interest in the possible import of Kazakh oil during his recent meeting with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
