Crude oil transfer tariffs to Belarusian refineries and transit fees through the country will be increased by 11% starting February 1, a spokesman for Belarus's economic ministry of said on Friday.
The spokesman said the recalculation of the tariffs are in line with changes in the fees for crude oil transportation services and was included in the package deal signed earlier on Wednesday. Russia and Belarus signed an array of agreements on crude oil deliveries and uninterrupted transits to Europe.
"These tariffs have been recalculated in Russian rubles and will be increased by 11% starting February 1," the spokesman said.
Tariffs were previously figured in euros.
Russia earlier offered to supply the ex-Soviet republic with some 6.3 million metric tons of oil for domestic consumption duty-free and demanded Minsk pay full import duties on crude it refines and transits to Europe, dropping considerable subsidies.
Belarus requested Russia to supply up to 30 million metric tons of oil duty free, saying it would otherwise increase transit fees for Europe-bound oil from $3.90 to $45.
Russia has had frequent disputes with its former Soviet neighbors over energy prices in recent years, as it has moved to bring tariffs closer to free market levels. The West has accused Moscow of using energy as a political tool in ties with Ukraine and Belarus, major transit nations for its natural gas and oil flows.
MINSK, January 29 (RIA Novosti)
