The president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko will not find considerable amounts of oil in Azerbaijan, since Azerbaijan does not have great amounts of free oil, which the country can sell. This is how the president of Fund of national energy safety of Russia Konstantin Simonov commented the visit of the Belarusian leader to Azerbaijan.
«Unfortunately, we saw once again Alexander Lukashenko’s real face. At first he says that he is ready to renew interaction with Russia, having given to it Belarusian oil refineries on beneficial terms, and then he goes to Azerbaijan for oil,» the Russian expert said.
According to Konstantin Simonov, the problem of Russian oil duties shows up once again. «Introduction of duties automatically makes the delivery of the Russian oil to Belarus too expensive. And Lukashenko, understanding that he is in a trap, feverishly tries to get out of this situation. And he can make it possible only in one way by finding alternative sources of oil», the Russian expert noted, News Agency «REGNUM-Belarus» informs.
«Lukashenko rushed to Venezuela. However, according to our calculations, the Russian oil in any case is cheaper, if there are no duties. And if there any oil duties, the Venezuelan oil can be cheaper in some conditions. But the volumes, given to Belarus by Chavez, are not enough. And now Lukashenko went to Azerbaijan. By and large, he has the same old aims to blackmail Russia with alternative of oil deliveries, assuring that he’s got everything cinched and the deliveries from this state can start very soon», Konstantin Simonov emphasized.
Russia may penalize Minsk for Lukashenko’s present behavior, Simonov
The Russian expert notices, that it is necessary to understand, that the Azerbaijan oil is claimed enough in the European market and there are channels of oil delivery in the region. For example there is Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline. «That is, Azerbaijan does not have great amounts of free oil. Certainly, Baku with pleasure will play in these games, showing to other consumers, that there are a lot of consumers, who want to buy Azerbaijan oil. For example, there is Lukashenko staying near the countries doors», Konstantin Simonov said. He added, that Belarus needs 20 million tons.
«Russia may penalize Minsk for Lukashenko’s present behaviour and reconsider the conditions of oil delivery in Belarus, changing the amounts of raw materials delivered duty-free. Therefore going to Azerbaijan Lukashenko just gives himself airs. Lukashenko’s won’t receive considerable amounts «, the Russian expert considers.
According to Konstantin Simonov, logically the president of Belarus has further to go to Kazakhstan. «It’s more real to get necessary amounts there, however the logistic situation is more difficult. But, this can help him to give himself airs», the Russian expert said. He noticed, that «Lukashenko’s strategy is to show Russia, that Belarus can survive without it».
«To prove my opinion, let’s consider the amount of oil output in Azerbaijan. According to the data of 2008, they produced 44 million tons of oil a year. It turns out, Azerbaijan should give to Belarus about the half of extracted oil to compensate the Russian amounts. It is unreal, since Azerbaijan oil is already settled», Konstantin Simonov summarized.
