Russian mass media: Belarus owes 100 million to Gazprom

• 14.10.2011, 15:24

Minsk was paying less than was due under the contract, justifying that by financial difficulties.

According to unofficial information, Belarus owes $100 million to Gazprom “for gas supplied this year” and asks Gazprom for a respite in repayment of the debt. Minsk allegedly offered to redistribute the sum of the indebtedness in equal shares and to pay in 2012 or to include the debt in the gas price.

In particular, The Moscow News with a reference to a source close to the gas talks between Belarus and Russia, inform about the debt of $100 million. According to the source, indebtedness has been accumulated over this summer: “Minsk was paying less than it was due under the contract, explaining that by financial difficulties because of devaluation of the national currency.”

Gazprom denies comments on this report of BelaPAN. Minsk does not comment on the debt either.

As it had been reported earlier, the price for gas for Belarus in 2012 can reach $288 per thousand cubic metres, stated Alyaksandr Antonenka, the head of the standing commission of the “chamber of representatives” on budget, finances and tax policy, to journalists on October 3.

On October 13, Chairman of the Board of the Russian gas monopoly Gazprom Alexei Miller stated following the results of the meeting in Moscow with Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Syarhei Rumas and Energy Minister Alyaksandr Azyarets (Alexander Ozerets): Belarus and Russia expect to sign all the necessary documents on gas supplies and transit in November.