Belarus to decide fast not to be weaned from Russia gas 14:24, 02/03/2004, Itar-Tass
Twenty-four hours are left to the Belarussian government for decision-making on the issue of Russia’s gas exports. The Russian company Trans Nafta will stop gas deliveries to Belarus on Wednesday morning. Experts told Itar-Tass that Belarus, whose gas transportation company Beltransgaz dragged its feet on renewing a contract for gas exports, is likely to sign a new deal by Wednesday. The intrigue of the day lies in a news conference due to be held in Moscow on Tuesday by senior executives of Russia’s gas company Gazprom and its subsidiary Gazeksport.
A source close to the Russian-Belarussian negotiations on the has issue told Itar-Tass that “Belarus will sell to Gazprom the shares of its state-owned concern Beltransgaz on Russia’s terms - for about 600 million dollars”.
Russia’s gas company Itera does not tule out that Gazprom and Beltransgaz have come to agreement or will settle the mater in the nearest time.
A source in the company told Itar-Tass that the “talks on resumption of gas exports to Belarus are not being conducted at present”.
He added that “Russia’s largest independent gas producer is ready to meet all its obligations to Minsk”.
Itera is to deliver 7.5 billion cubic meters of gas to Belarus in 2004, he said.
In view of Trans Nafta’s director general Vladimir Kondrachuk, “Minsk hopes that in the run-up top the presidential elections, Moscow will not exacerbate the existing differences and will take a compromise”.
However, this is unlikely, he added.
“Because of the climatic conditions, March and April are the most deficient months in Russia in terms of the gas output. For this reason we most likely will not be able to sell gas to Belarus at the previous price of 46,68 dollars for 1,000 cubic meters,” Kondrachuk explained.
“Since Gazprom asks 50 dollars for its fuel, independent producers will probably offer the price of 49 dollars,” he said.
After Belarus refused to fulfil a previous accord on setting up a joint gas transportation company with Russia, Gazprom stopped gas deliveries at a so-called fifth-band, or Russia’s internal price, on January 1.
Itera, which sold gas to Belarus at the price of 46.68 dollars for 1,000 cubic meters, suspended the exports on February 12, when the latest contract expired.
Russia’s sole exporter of gas to Belarus these days is Trans Nafta.
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