Russia mulling pipeline routed around Belarus

The Russian Industry and Energy Ministry has introduced to the government a draft decree on the construction of an oil pipeline, which would be routed around Belarus, RBC reports. The ministry's press office reported to RBC that the document was a revised decree on the construction of the Baltic Pipeline System (BPS-2). Representatives of the ministry believe that the project will boost Russia's export capacity and lower transit risks. The pipeline will also increase reliability of energy supplies from Russia. However, no details of the project have been revealed.Some analysts think that this project is a means of Russia's political pressure on Belarus' President Alexander Lukashenko.