“Gasprom” May Limit Gas Supplies to Belarus :: Charter'97 :: News

The Russian side may once again embark on the limitation of gas supplies to Belarus, given Belarus fails to properly pay in due time for the service, said in an interview to “Mediafact” deputy chairman of “Gasprom’s” board Alexander Ryazanov.

He recalled that at the moment the Belarus’ debt for gas in 2002 amounts to some $80mln. “In the year 2003 “Gasprom” will sell 10,2bln cubic meters of gas to Belarus at the internal Russian price - $24. It is wrong when the Belarusian consumers are buying this gas from the state at $48,” – underscored Ryazanov.
Deputy head of the board also added that in compliance with the next year’s contract gas supplies to Minsk would be carried out on the condition of payment in the monetary equivalent.
“In case official Minsk fails to clear off its indebtedness, we may well revise the size of the gas supplies next year,” – said Ryazanov.
He reminded that “Gasprom” signed a contract on supplying gas to Belarus with the independent gas producers, including “Itera” and “Transnafta”. “According to our estimations, this amount of gas will be enough till the end of the year,” – concluded Ryazanov.