Expansion of energy cooperation discussed between Iran and Belarus

Minsk, September 30 - Neftegaz.RU. Iran and Belarus discussed the ways for the expansion of bilateral cooperation in the field of energy in a meeting between Iranian Ambassador to Belarus Saeed Yari and Energy Minister of Belarus Viktor Karankevich in Belarus today.

During the meeting, Iranian ambassador elaborated on the capacities for boosting Iran-Belarus energy cooperation and emphasized the need for implementing the agreements made between the two sides in the field of energy in the 14th meeting of Iran-Belarus Joint Economic Committee.

The energy minister of Belarus, for his part, pointed to the history of cooperation between Tehran and Minsk in the field of energy as well as the activity of Belarussian BelEnergo company in Iran and welcomed the expansion of cooperation between the two sides in electricity and gas industries.

The minister also referred to the high capacities of Iranian Company MAPNA and said that his country welcomes this company’s implementation of electricity projects in Belarus.

In December 2019, Iran, and Belarus signed an agreement for promoting mutual trade. The agreement was signed by the IRICA Head Mehdi Mirashrafi and the Chairman of Belarus State Customs Committee Yuri Senko on the sidelines of a World Customs Organization in South Korea.

Belarus for long has been among Iran’s trade partners. In 2016 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that Belarus is in talks with Iran on supplies of oil. Following him, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh said in 2016 that Iran is considering cooperation with Belarus in oil industry equipment manufacturing and also oil trade.

Iran stands ready to negotiate oil supplies with Belarus, including in terms of price that can be below the world average, Saeed Yari said in an interview in February 2020.

"Iran is an oil exporting country. It is only natural if we negotiate oil supplies with Belarus, too. It is a purely commercial matter. Are are ready to cover Belarus' demand of oil and petrochemicals," Yari said.