Russian oil pipeline monopoly Transneft said on Wednesday Belarus had no right to impose any new duty on transit of Russian oil across its territory, according to Reuters. "Belarus cannot impose any export or additional transit duty, because the oil belongs to Russia," Transneft Vice-President Sergei Grigoryev told Reuters. "As for the transit shipping fee, it's set by inter-governmental agreements, and therefore it cannot be changed without Russia's accord." "Therefore, we are not worried." Belarus said on Wednesday it had imposed a customs duty on Russian crude oil exports across its territory, effective from Jan. 1, 2007, amounting to $45 per tonne.
