MINSK, February 16. /TASS/. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has approved the draft intergovernmental agreement with Russia on cooperation in carriage and throughput of Belarusian petroleum products via Russian seaports, the presidential press service reports on Tuesday.
"Alexander Lukashenko approved the draft intergovernmental agreement with Russia on organizing cooperation in the sphere of carriage and throughput of petroleum products from Belarus intended for export supplies to third countries through Russian seaports, as the basis for negotiations," according to the text. "Lukashenko authorized the minister of transport and communications to hold talks on the draft agreement and sign the document when the arrangement is reached within the approved draft limits," the press service said.
On February 12, the Belarusian Ministry of Transport and Communications informed about the postponement of the agreement signing from February 15 until a later period. The draft agreement provides for transshipment of more than 9.8 mln tonnes of cargo like fuel oil and gasoline by Belarusian companies in Russian Baltic seaports in 2021-2023. The agreement stipulates contracting under the Take or Pay principle. The agreement is intended until 2023 with the tacit renewal option.