Russia clears oil for Belarus refineries-traders

MOSCOW Jan 4 (Reuters) - Russia's oil pipeline monopoly Transneft has cleared the way for some oil supplies to refineries in Belarus, two Russian oil traders told Reuters on Monday.

The traders, speaking on condition of anonymity, added that a pricing dispute between Moscow and Minsk had still not been resolved.

"Transneft has issued the papers for some volumes. They are smaller than before (the dispute began)," said one trader with a Russian oil major who declined further details.

"As far as oil pricing is concerned I understand there is still no agreement," the trader said.

He and another trader with a different Russian oil major said Russian firms were ready to supply crude on the assumption that Belarus would pay full export duties, while Belarus was still counting on supplies of duty-free oil.

"It means that if they (Belarussian plants) want to stay profitable they would need to slash imports by three quarters," said a second trader. (Reporting by Dmitry Zhdannikov)