Belarus’ oil imports up 5.9% in 2012

MINSK, 19 February (BelTA) - In 2012 Belarus increased crude oil imports to 21.6 million tonnes, up 5.9% on the previous year. The average price for oil was $402 per tonne, down 12.6% over 2011, BelTA learnt from the National Statistics Committee.

Oil supplies from the CIS grew 11.5% to reach 21.3 million tonnes, with the average price at $393 per tonne (down 9.1%). In 2012 a total of 0.3 million tonnes of oil was imported from non-CIS countries (25.1% to the same period last year). The average price was $402 per tonne, up 13.6%.

The Belarus-Russia Union State plan for oil supplies in 2012 envisaged the delivery of 21.5 million tonnes of Russian oil to Belarus. The delivery of two million tonnes more was envisaged by railway from Russia if necessary. In 2012 Belarus also imported Venezuelan oil. The purchase of Venezuelan oil was ceased in June 2012.

In 2012 Belarus’ oil imports increased by 47.6% from 2011 to reach 8,474,200 tonnes.

Last year Belarus imported 20.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia, up 1.3% from the previous year. The average price for gas was $168 per 1,000 cubic meters, down 36.6%. In 2012 Belarus planned to purchase 21.5 billion cubic meters of gas from Gazprom.

In 2012 Belarus increased electricity imports by 37.7% to almost 7,898.9 million kWh. There were supplies 149.4 million kWh from the non-CIS countries, at the average price of $46 per 1,000 kWh. Electricity imports from the CIS grew 36.1% to 7,749.5 million kWh. The average price was at $63 per 1,000 kWh. The average price for electricity imports stood at $62 per 1,000 kWh in 2012, up 1.7% on 2011. Last year Belarus planned to import 7.4 billion kWh of electricity from Russia and Ukraine.