Transnafta says stopped gas supplies to Belarus Wed morning :: Charter'97 :: News

Russian independent trader Transnafta stopped natural gas supplies to Belarus on Wednesday at 10 a.m. Moscow time as Belarus’ state gas pipeline monopoly Beltransgaz failed to sign a new contract with Transnafta, Transnafta`s General Director Vladimir Kondrachuk told ITAR-TASS Wednesday.

Transnafta warned about the possibility to stop supplies on Tuesday.

Under the latest agreement with Beltransgaz, Transnafta started gas supplies to Belarus on February 12.

The company agreed to export 360 million cubic meters of gas, which should have met Belarus` gas needs for five or six days.

In January, Transnafta exported 1.2 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Belarus.

The company is ready to sign a new agreement with Beltransgaz to supply natural gas at U.S. $46.68 per 1,000 cubic meters, Kondrachuk said on Tuesday adding that Beltransgaz` had not responded to the offer.

Since February 12 Transnafta has been the only gas supplier to Belarus.

Russia`s gas giant Gazprom stopped gas exports as from January 1, insisting on a price of $50 per 1,000 cubic meters, while Belarus was ready to pay $41.

Russia-based international gas producer and trader Itera stopped supplies from February 12.

"On February 5, we sent our offer to Beltransgaz and have still not received a reply," an official with Itera told ITAR-TASS Tuesday.