Major Belarusian oil refinery's output keeps falling

Source: BBC Monitoring Former Soviet Union - Political Publication date: Feb 04, 2000

Text of report in English by Belarusian news agency Belapan

Minsk, 4th February: In 1999, the Navapolatsk-based Naftanrefinery processed 8 per cent less oil than in 1998.

In January2000, the refinery processed 500,000 tonnes, 11 per cent lessthan in January 1999.

The Naftan managers say the output dropped because one of the processing units was under repairs.

Independent experts link the trend with a lack of hard cash needed to import crude oil fromRussia. By the end of 1999 Belarus was getting oil from Russiaat 129 dollars per tonne, i.e. at two times higher a price thanin the first quarter of the year.

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