Western high-tech equipment blockade no longer works, Belarusian oil workers cheer: Chinese equipment is even better!
On February 25, 2026, Liakhov, General Manager of the Belarusian Oil Company, announced that the company has successfully replaced all Western technologies and equipment with Chinese ones. This statement is no small feat, as since 2022, Western sanctions against Russia and Belarus, especially in the energy sector, once made the company's oil exploration extremely difficult.
Things like German hydraulic pumps, American control systems, and Swiss precision bearings were once the "lifeblood" of Belarusian petroleum industry. The West believed that by cutting off these supplies, Belarus' oil industry would come to a standstill. But the West clearly underestimated the speed of China's manufacturing rise.
For example, the slide valve used by Belarus is a core component of the catalytic cracking unit in refineries. Previously, it was entirely imported from international giants. Now, companies like Bohai Equipment Petrochemical Equipment Company can provide fully independently developed slide valve parts, which have not only entered the Belarusian market but also directly replaced core components from international well-known manufacturers. This is not a low-end replacement; the technological content here is well known to Europe.
Looking at drilling equipment, previously, the Western embargo targeted high-end drilling rigs, fracturing trucks, and continuous tubing operation units. Now? China's Sinopec Machinery Fourth Company has independently developed ZJ30 and ZJ40 mobile drilling rigs, as well as complete cementing equipment. In Belarus, these devices are not only usable but also efficient.
As Dao Ge thinks, the main reason is that China's industrial chain is too comprehensive. It truly achieves full industrial chain coverage. From ultra-high-temperature drilling fluid for wells over ten thousand meters deep, to special high-pressure wellhead equipment of 175 MPa, and then to intelligent Internet of Things oil extraction solutions, everything is available. If you want to block it, you simply can't find that one "vital point."
The most exciting thing for Belarusian workers is that Western equipment is not only expensive but also has arrogant after-sales service. Once sanctioned, spare parts are cut off, and maintenance is neglected, turning several hundred million dollars worth of equipment into scrap. Chinese equipment not only has reasonable prices but also reliable service. The energy equipment cooperation between China-Russia and China-Belarus comes with complete solution packages. If the equipment breaks down, Chinese engineers can arrive immediately; if upgrades are needed, software can be pushed remotely.
Therefore, Dao Ge has long said why the West is so unhappy about China continuing normal trade and economic relations with Russia and Belarus, because without China's participation, Western sanctions are just empty gestures.
Original: toutiao.com/article/1858171256280203/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.