Leanid Zlotnikau: Without Russian naphtha Belarus will lose $1 billion
- 9.08.2012, 12:24
Together with other factors this may cause a new wave of crisis in the country.
Famous Belarusian economist, Ph.D., Associate Professor Leanid Zlotnikau commented to charter97.org on suspension of supplies of Russian raw materials to Belarus for the production of solvents and diluents.
"For the first three months of this year 90% of petroleum products, produced at Belarusian oil refineries, went to export. Russian oil supplies to Belarus increased by several times. With exports of solvents and diluents Belarus was supposed to have to 2 billion dollars a year", - told the economist.
"Due to the suspension of the supplies of naphtha in the middle of the year, Belarus will not receive an expected one billion dollars. This is not a small sum, which is added to the growth of imports of several billion dollars, which is caused by the rise of real incomes of population. And this is a significant factor, which, together with others, will have a major influence on the monetary situation in the country", - said Leanid Zlotnikau.
"Will it cause a new crisis in Belarus? Yes, this possibility can not be excluded. Even the Chairman of the National Bank Yarmakova said at the meeting with Lukashenka 3 weeks ago that there may be a new wave of crisis due to the influence of external factors. But it was a shy assessment: domestic factors also influence on the situation. This are the increase in imports, due to rise of real incomes, and prices for foreign currency", - said Leanid Zlotnikau.
Recall, on August 8 Russian Railways has blocked the supplies of naphtha to Belarus.
Russian naphtha (straight-run gasoline) is the basis for the production of Belarusian solvents and diluents. This is a transparent liquid, obtained directly by distillation of crude oil. Naphtha is used primarily as a raw material for petrochemical industry.
As the website charter97.org reported, Russian oil is smuggled by Belarussian oligarchs close to Lukashenka. However, they shy away from paying taxes to the Russian budget.
