Lukashenka do not have enough money for gas? :: Charter'97 :: News

According to information obtained by Russian newspaper “Vzgliad”, Belarus faces problems to pay for gas delivered by a Russian gas giant Gazprom. Recently a delegation of Beltransgaz top managers arrived to Moscow for talks with Gazprom. Belarusian officials do not reveal their proposals, but believe that they will find understanding with the gas concern. Experts think that representatives of Beltransgaz want to change terms of payment for gas offered by Gazprom.

A delegation of Beltransgaz top managers has arrived to Moscow for talks with the gas monopoly. As a source told to “Vzgliad”, the Belarusian side cannot manage to pay for gas delivered to it by Gazprom in time.

“The corporation has recently paid for 12.5% of Beltransgaz shares, transferring 625 mln dollars,” the source noted. “It had been planned that the money would be returned to the concern as payment for hydrocarbons delivered by the Russian side”. But the money hadn’t been transferred. Instead of that the Belarusians arrived to Moscow on Monday.

In the end of June Beltransgaz representatives stated that they are looking for variants of financial resources attraction. An opportunity for opening credit lines via Belarusian banks or direct financing from abroad with credit linked notes were considered as main instruments. Representatives of the company also mentioned that they study the variant of gaining a syndicated loan of Belgazprombank and Gazprombank. The latter offered a credit for up to 200 mln dollars for Beltransgaz in the beginning of this year.