Belarus: Oil, Gas, Transit Pipelines and Russian Foreign Energy Policy

Belarus relies on Russia for about 85% of its total energy needs, 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 Europe if this interdependent relationship ends, either through political changes in Belarus or if Russia ends its energy subsidies to Belarus? This report looks at transit, infrastructure and investment issues and analyzes both the state of the current infrastructure, as well as the possibilities this transit opens to Western investors, particularly as the Yamal Pipeline nears completion. In addition, it looks at the current conflict between Belarus and Russian investors for control of the country's gas transit system and oil refineries. Part of the Russian Foreign Energy Policy Report series.