OREANDA-NEWS. The authorities of Belarus consider it inappropriate to continue to overpay Russian companies for oil supplied to the country. This was stated by the First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Krutoy.

However, Russian oil companies, according to him, are not yet ready to reduce the size of the premium. In this regard, the Belarusian authorities are working out schemes of supply from other sources. On December 31, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko instructed the government to ensure the purchase of oil outside Russia.

“We sent relevant commercial offers. I think that… soon we will receive alternative options for the supply of… oil. All possible countries are engaged: Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic states, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan,” Krutoy said.

At the same time, the politician expressed hope that it would be difficult for Russian oil companies to refuse the Belarusian market. “We are a large consumer of Russian oil, approximately 10 % of Russian exports. Negotiations will continue, and I hope a solution will be found,” Krutoy concluded.