Minsk, August 30 - Neftegaz.RU. Belarus can participate in the development of oil fields on the Caspian Sea shelf in Russia. Prime Minister of Belarus Sergei Rumas made the statement as he met with Governor of Russia's Astrakhan Oblast Alexander Zhilkin on 29 August, BelTA has learned.
Sergei Rumas said: «The Belorusneft enterprise has vast experience of geologic exploration and oil extraction. It can get involved in the planned development of raw hydrocarbon deposits on the Caspian Sea shelf.»
In 2017 Belarus' trade with Astrakhan Oblast rose by 40% from 2016 to nearly $30 million. In H1 2018 the bilateral trade already exceeded $20 million, 56% up. «The figures are definitely good. But the potential of Belarus' cooperation with Astrakhan Oblast can be so much higher. We have something to offer to each other,» believes the prime minister.
Belorusneft intends to increase oil production in Russia in 2018 by 20% to as much as 180,000 tonnes. As for the oil output in Belarus, the company expects it to reach 1.67 million tonnes this year (up 20,000 tonnes versus 2017).
To read the full story in Russian.