International Concern for Oil and Gas Trade, Vitol, co-owner of Ventspils nafta (VN holding), may refuse the transit of oil from Venezuela through Ventspils to Belarus in order to maintain good relations with Russia. This opinion was expressed by Ventspils Mayor, Aivars Lembergs. Nevertheless, he said that Ventspils port was interested to transship any cargo.
As the head of the city noted, the main clients of Vitol were in Russia, and therefore the company did not want to spoil relations with this country. «If they have to choose between Belarus’ oil supplies and relations with Russia, I admit that most likely they will choose the last one. In any case, Ventspils Free Port and self-government institutions insist as much as possible on that cargos from Venezuela should be received», Aivars Lembergs stated, Delfi informs.
«Now, only Vitol can solve the issue. The port of Ventspils is 100% ready to receive any tanker from Venezuela. It would be more reasonable to transport oil from Ventspils not by rail, what is more expensive, but pump it via pipeline in working condition, using which it is possible to pump more than 10 million tons. But LatRosTrans company, which owns the pipeline and controlled by Russian Transneft, do not want Belarus to solve its problems with the supply of oil bypassing Russia», the mayor said.
The head of the city also stressed that Ventspils port was adapted to accept oil from Venezuela better than other ports of the Baltic countries, as VN terminal had regularly transshipped oil earlier. However, according to Aivars Lembergs, to transship Venezuelan oil, the company had to settle formalities and to apply for activity affecting the environment. Ventspils Mayor reported that Vitol had done this only in July, and the issue of Venezuelan oil transit was delayed because of that. According to him, the first ship with Venezuelan oil was supposed to arrive in the port of Ventspils on July 10.
