Azerbaijan, Baku / corr Trend I.Khalilova / Alexander Ivankov, the Belarusian Trade Minister, stated in Baku on 3 May that Azerbaijan and Belarus established a joint working group to study the Azerbaijani oil refinery at various oil refinery plants in Azerbaijan.
Belarus possesses a large capacity of Oil Refinery Opportunities (ORP). The average production of ORP is 1.5-2mln a month.
Azerbaijan refines over 6mln tons of oil produced from its fields at the two Baku-based ORPs. Part of the oil products is sold at the internal market, while the other part is exported to Georgia and other countries.
The Azerbaijan government states that at current oil prices, the oil refinery at Belarusian ORPs is very efficient. However, any possibility of pumping oil via Belarus to the European market, which earlier was proposed to the Belarusian side is ruled out.
The 2007 action plan includes the study of opportunities to implement joint investments projects and participation in tenders on the conduct of geophysical, drilling and different work in exploration and the development of crude hydrocarbon and the establishment of scientific and technical co-operation.