Russia wants control of its oil exports after halt

Russia must find means under its own control to deliver oil exports after its reputation was damaged by a halt in pipeline supplies to Europe during a dispute with Belarus, the economy minister said yesterday. Russia restarted the flow through its main...

Russia must find means under its own control to deliver oil exports after its reputation was damaged by a halt in pipeline supplies to Europe during a dispute with Belarus, the economy minister said yesterday. Russia restarted the flow through its main export pipeline on Thursday after Belarus dropped an oil transit duty it had imposed and agreed to return oil Moscow said had been taken illegally.

The three-day stoppage at the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline rattled Europe, which receives a tenth of its oil via the route. Belarus imposed its duty after Russia last year decided to charge it the full export rate of about $180 a tonne for crude oil, which it had previously received duty free as part of the formerly close relationship between the two countries.

Late on Friday, Russia agreed to impose a lower duty, currently about $53 a tonne, on oil exports to Belarus.

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