Belarus slaps export duty on Russia oil

Belarus imposed export duty on Russian oil crossing its territory yesterday – with a potential impact on oil markets – as President Alexander Lukashenko hit back at Moscow in an energy row.

Belarus Prime Minister Sergei Sidorsky said his government was imposing a duty of $45 per tonne on Russian oil that transits his country en route to customers in Europe.
“I do not exclude the Belarussians could do something weird, which may paralyse Russian oil exports to Europe,” one trader with a Russian oil major said.

Russia oil pipeline monopoly Transneft said it was legally impossible for Belarus to impose the duty.

Gulf Daily