Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan in Belarus Anatoli Smirnov said that Kazakhstan could start oil supplies to Belarus after the Common Economic Space come in operation, and on market conditions only. "We've been continually raising this issue; this problem will be easier solved in the framework of the CES," he said at a press conference in Minsk on December 29.
«We can deliver both oil and other minerals. Kazakhstan virtually has the entire periodic table in its depths. Market relations have been formed in Kazakhstan for 15 years, and if business executives come to an agreement, there will be supplies,» Ca-news quoted Kazakhstan Ambassador.
The Ambassador recalled that the Common Economic Space of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan would operate in 2012, as a package of CES documents had already been signed, BelTA informs.
He says that Kazakhstan produces about 80 million tons of oil every year, and this amount will rise to 130 million tons in ten years. «That is, we have the possibility of oil supply. Oil transit through Belarus will amount to five million tons,» Anatoli Smirnov said.
Ambassador of Kazakhstan believes that oil supplies to Belarus will be reliable within the Common Economic Space, because their routes will be agreed by member-countries of the Customs Union, and the necessary financing solutions will be found.
According to Anatoli Smirnov, Kazakhstan is also interested in further development of products supply from Belarus.
«We are interested in deliveries of Belarusian products, including machinery, chemicals, furniture, food and other industries,» he said.
The ambassador noted that turnover of Kazakhstan and Belarus amounted to $681 million over 10 months of 2010 and if compared with the same period of 2009 it increased by almost a half. Volumes of goods supplies from Belarus increased by 49% to $395 million, from Kazakhstan — increased in 4.8 times, having reached $285.8 million.
According to Telegraf, a package of agreements on forming the Common Economic Space of Belarus was ratified on December 21. Ratification by other member-countries of the Customs Union is expected. CES will provide free movement of goods, services, capital and labor, as well as coordinated macroeconomic policies. Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia was established in 2007.
