No money to pay for gas? (Video)
- 16.07.2008, 19:40
Belarus doesn’t perform its obligations to pay for Russian gas. On 16 June Alexander Ananenkov, deputy head of Gazprom's Management Committee warned the Belarusian authorities on the meeting with Beltransgaz CEO Uladzimir Mayorau that Gazprom might go to court if the Belarusian side doesn’t pay the debt.
As Gazprom’s press release says, special attention was given to the need to full payment for current Russian gas supplies to Belarus in strict compliance with the terms of the contract for the supply and transit of gas of 2007-2011.
A. Ananenkov noted in the course of the meeting, “If the Belarusian side continues to fail to honour its obligations to pay in full for Russian gas, Gazprom reserves the right to start court proceedings,” the statement says.
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It was emphasised at the meeting that under the contract since 2008 gas price for the republic has been calculated by the formula that is most comfortable for Gazprom’s gas supplies to the CIS and Europe’s countries, the press release says.
Belarus threatens to increase transit duties on Russian oil
Gazprom’s statement about going to law if Belarus fails to pay for gas is a part of negotiation process between a supplier and a customer, first deputy minister of energy Eduard Taupyanyets said to Interfax-Zapad.
“It is a negotiation process,” E. Taupyanyets said commenting to Interfax-Zapad on Gazprom CEO’s statement that the Russian supplier would have to go to court if Belarus didn’t pay for gas. According to the first deputy minister, the negotiations on gas supplies have always been difficult and based on compromises. “We are looking for a compromise again,” E. Taupyanyets said.
“Every side had its interest and is trying to gain it. Our aim is to obtain maximally low gas prices for our country. We will use arguments while we have them,” E. Taupyanyets said. According to him, for the moment this argument is cost of Russian gas transit through Belarus. “We think if the gas price is raised, expenses on pumping and transit will increase as well,” the first deputy minister explained. “At the same time an additional agreement on transit is still unsigned,” he added.
As the Charter’97 press center informed, Belarus doesn’t perform its obligations to for Russian gas. In the second quarter of 2008 the Belarusian party paid for gas at prices of the first quarter, while according to the contract of 31 December 2007 gas prices for Belarus depend on the European prices and amounted to USD 119 in the first quarter of 2008, and USD 128 per 1,000 cubic meters in the second one. Belarus pays 9 dollars less for 1,000 cubic meter since April, Gazprom and Russian officials believe.
Belarus purchases from Russia about 20 bln cubic meters of gas per year. Thus, debt for a quarter can amount to USD 45 mln.