BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

December 06, 2005

The Russian Oil and Gas Industry Relies on Belarus to Export Its Supplies to Western Europe

DUBLIN, Ireland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2005--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c28969) has announced the addition of Belarus: Oil, Gas, Transit Pipelines and Russian Foreign Energy Policy to their offering.

-- Analyzes the impact upon Russian energy exports if Russia abolishes energy subsidies to Belarus or the Belarusan authoritarian regime is forced out of power.

-- Explains the significant role that Belarusan pipelines play in energy exports to Western Europe.

-- One of a series of reports which examines the emergence of a Russian foreign energy policy based on acquisitions of energy assets in the post-Soviet space by Russian entities and analyzes the political and economic implications of a new liberal Russian energy empire.

-- Factual case studies, written by leading authorities on Russian hydrocarbons and critical energy infrastructure protection, on how acquisitions are being made with conclusions drawn on Russian negotiating practices in the transfer of ownership of foreign energy assets.

Belarus relies on Russia for about 85% of its total energy needs. These subsidized energy supplies help to keep authoritarian Belarusan President Aleksandr Lukashenka in power, while Russia needs Belarus' oil and gas pipelines to export its supplies to Western Europe. How will energy exports from Russia and Belarus' transit capabilities impact Western energy investors if this interdependent relationship ends? Lukashenka may eventually be removed from power by his opposition, or Russia may end its support of the Belarusian economy through the energy subsidies.

Belarus: Russian Foreign Energy Policy aims to prepare the investor for just such a window of opportunity by providing essential information on transit, infrastructure and investment issues. The report will analyze both the state of the current infrastructure, as well as the possibilities this transit opens to Belarus as well as Russian and Western investors, particularly as the Yamal Pipeline nears completion. In addition, the report looks at the current conflict between Belarus and Russian investors for control of the country's gas transit system and oil refineries.

This unique study will assist energy industry professionals, policy experts, and decision makers who seek to make sense of the dynamic changes that have overcome not only the Russian energy complex but also in understanding the confluence of Russian private and public sector interest in controlling downstream assets in the former Soviet Union and Central and Eastern Europe regions.

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c28969

Source:

http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20051206005046&newsLang=en