Lithuania to Try to Keep Belarus Exporters, Verslo Zinios Says

Lithuania’s government is calling for ways to placate Belarusian exporters after a decision by oil terminal Klaipedos Nafta AB to handle Belarusian products through a Russian intermediary, Verslo Zinios reported.

Belarusian companies account for a third of the cargo transported through Lithuania‘s Baltic Sea port of Klaipeda. If they oppose new conditions for oil transit, they may redirect exports such as fertilizers to competing ports elsewhere, the newspaper cited Transport Minister Eligijus Masiulis as saying.

As of Oct. 1, Klaipedos Nafta replaced a Belarusian logistics company with OAO Lukoil’s Litasco unit, which it says offered better terms as a supplier of Belarusian oil, according to Verslo Zinios.

The terminal will stay in constant contact with Belarusian suppliers and handle their oil products as well when capacity is available, the newspaper said.

To contact the reporter on this story: James M. Gomez in Prague at jagomez@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James M. Gomez at jagomez@bloomberg.net