Belarus has imposed an environmental tax for the transit of oil and oil products through its territory on the signing of the decree said the Agency BelTA with reference to the press service of the President of the country Alexander Lukashenko.
"In order to create a source of funds for the mitigation of possible environmental impacts in case of accidents on the main oil pipeline or other contingencies related to the movement of oil and oil products on the territory of Belarus, to organizations transporting oil and oil products, the rate of income tax at 50%",— said the press service and added that the object of taxation are recognized as the transit transportation through the territory of Belarus of oil and oil products through main pipelines.
the Operator and owner of the Belarusian section of the Druzhba pipeline that pumped oil from Russia to Europe, is OJSC "Gomeltransneft Druzhba".
the Introduction of the environmental tax may become a disguised form of higher tariff for transit, which Belarus is trying to achieve for years.
Minsk imposes the environmental fee on the background of the conflict with Russian oil companies, which this year did not agree to sign contracts on oil supply to Belarusian refineries. The main suppliers are "Rosneft", "Surgutneftegaz" and "Gazprom Neft".
