Belarus needs to level tariffs for railway cargo transportation with Russia – Russia’s Transport Ministry
<p> MINSK, Nov 23 - PrimePress. Belarus is expected to level the tariffs for cargo transportation by rail to those of Russia and provide respective discounts, Russian Deputy Transport Minister Yuri Tsvetkov told reporters on November 23, 2020. </p> <p> </p> <p> “The railway already provides 50% discount for the Belarusian counterparts. We would like them to apply a tariff that would not be considerably higher than the Russian one to ensure equal operating conditions for both sides,” Prime quotes Tsvetkov as saying. </p> <p> </p> <p> This is about the possible reorientation of Belarusian oil products from Baltic to Russian ports. According to Tsvetkov, this matter is under consideration with the line agencies. “The Ministry of Transport is considering this jointly with Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Industry and Trade,” he said. </p> <p> </p> <p> “The Belarusian and Russian railways are involved in transportation. The cost of transshipment of these types of cargo and freight in the ports is taken into account. The cost of transshipment in a port is often higher, since long-term contracts that could reduce this cost are few yet,” said Tsvetkov. </p> <p> </p> <p> According to the deputy minister, Belarusian oil products can be transshipped in the ports of Ust-Luga and St. Petersburg. Russian ports have capacities to handle around 6 million tonnes of cargos, including large amounts of potash fertilizers. Russia may also suggest building Belarus’ own terminal for fertilizers. Tsvetkov said that Belarus was still hesitant, having contracts with the Baltic States. Once acceptable terms for railway transportation have been agreed on, Belarus could transport around 1 million tonnes per year, he said. </p> <p> </p> <p> As previously reported, President Lukashenko said in late August that Belarus would stop using Baltic ports for cargo transshipment and switch to Russian ports, provided that the tariffs were adjusted to minimize the costs. The possible reorientation of trade flows may be expedited given that the Baltic States imposed sanctions against Lukashenko and some other Belarusian officials. According to Lukashenko, he told Russian President Vladimir Putin at their meeting in Sochi that Minsk was willing to reorient its cargo flows from the Baltic ports to Russia on condition that the transportation terms were similar. End </p>
2020-11-24
Primepress
MINSK, Nov 23 - PrimePress. Belarus is expected to level the tariffs for cargo transportation by rail to those of Russia and provide respective discounts, Russian Deputy Transport Minister Yuri Tsvetkov told reporters on November 23, 2020.
“The railway already provides 50% discount for the Belarusian counterparts. We would like them to apply a tariff that would not be considerably higher than the Russian one to ensure equal operating conditions for both sides,” Prime quotes Tsvetkov as saying.
This is about the possible reorientation of Belarusian oil products from Baltic to Russian ports. According to Tsvetkov, this matter is under consideration with the line agencies. “The Ministry of Transport is considering this jointly with Ministry of Energy and Ministry of Industry and Trade,” he said.
“The Belarusian and Russian railways are involved in transportation. The cost of transshipment of these types of cargo and freight in the ports is taken into account. The cost of transshipment in a port is often higher, since long-term contracts that could reduce this cost are few yet,” said Tsvetkov.
According to the deputy minister, Belarusian oil products can be transshipped in the ports of Ust-Luga and St. Petersburg. Russian ports have capacities to handle around 6 million tonnes of cargos, including large amounts of potash fertilizers. Russia may also suggest building Belarus’ own terminal for fertilizers. Tsvetkov said that Belarus was still hesitant, having contracts with the Baltic States. Once acceptable terms for railway transportation have been agreed on, Belarus could transport around 1 million tonnes per year, he said.
As previously reported, President Lukashenko said in late August that Belarus would stop using Baltic ports for cargo transshipment and switch to Russian ports, provided that the tariffs were adjusted to minimize the costs. The possible reorientation of trade flows may be expedited given that the Baltic States imposed sanctions against Lukashenko and some other Belarusian officials. According to Lukashenko, he told Russian President Vladimir Putin at their meeting in Sochi that Minsk was willing to reorient its cargo flows from the Baltic ports to Russia on condition that the transportation terms were similar. End