Igor Sechin: Gazprom, Rosneft projects facing no risks in Belarus

The recent row involving the Russia-based Uralkaliy Company is unlikely to create risks for Gazprom’s and Rosneft’s projects in Belarus, Rosneft Chief Igor Sechin told journalists on Saturday, September 14. “This situation is not affecting us. We have normal and stable partners,” Sechin said. “One of them, a professional manager of the former Soviet oil and gas sector, is heading the Belneftekhim company. We have normal contacts with him. We trust each other in our work,” Sechin went on to say. The Rosneft chief emphasized that the Belarusian partner had never let his company down. On July 30, Uralkaliy announced that it was stopping all export sales via the Belarusian Potash Company (BKK), a joint venture set up by Uralkaliy and Belaruskaliy, a state-owned Belarusian company, which manufactures fertilizers. Uralkaliy’s chief Vladislav Baumgertner was detained in Minsk, Belarus, on August 26 after talks with Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich. He was charged with power abuse, office misconduct and activities that had damaged the interests of the Belarusian enterprise. At the moment, Baumgertner is staying in a pre-trial ward of the Belarusian State Security Committee.