Myasnikovich demands to modernize oil refineries twice as fast

The government has demanded Belneftekhim concern to modernize oil refineries in double-quick time.

This statement has been made today by Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich at the meeting of the Board of the Belneftekhim Concern, BelTA reporter has learned.

“The so-called big tax maneuver of the Russian Federation has exposed the problems with the competitive power of the Belarusian oil-processing industry,” the head of the Belarusian government said. According to him, in the future oil producers are going “to put more pressure on oil-processing companies to force the latter to improve the crude oil upgrading index”.

Speaking about the volumes of oil processing, Mikhail Myasnikovich noted that as much as 23 million tonnes has to be processed in 2014 and in 2015. “Since all the customs duties (on oil and oil products made out of Russian oil) stay in Belarus as from 1 January 2015, even “oil for wheels” will no longer be unprofitable,” the Prime Minister was convinced. He also stated that in the next few years Belarusian refineries should be ready to process more than 23 million tonnes, so additional capacities are to be created for that.