Gazprom to decrease gas deliveries to Belarus two times :: Charter'97 :: News

Gazprom is to decrease gas deliveries to Belarus by 45% since 3 August; it is reported in the company’s press release. “As it is stipulated by the contract a day’s volume of gas deliveries to Belarus is to be decreased pro rata to the factual payment, i.e. by 45% since 10 a.m. 3 August “, it is said in the missive.

In compliance with the contract on volumes and terms and conditions of gas deliveries to Belarus and gas traffic through the republic in 2007-2011, the Gazprom sent the official notification to the acting general director of the Beltransgaz Uladzimir Mayorau on reduction of gas deliveries to Belarusian consumers due to the gas non-payments delivered in the first half of 2007 and non-availability of any payment guarantees, the RIA Novosty reports.
Against the contract the Beltransgaz was to provide the unimpeded traffic of the Russian gas over its territory to the third countries.
Gazpromexport also addressed the notification on reduction of the gas deliveries to Belarus.
The Gazprom is to take all possible measures for the Russian gas transportation through the Belarusian territory in full compliance with the liabilities before the European customers”, it is said in the missive.
The Gazprom and Beltransgaz signed the contract on gas deliveries and traffic in 2007-2011.The document stipulated the Russian gas price of USD 100 per 100 cubic meters for 2007 and the price formula corresponding to the price formula for the Russian gas deliveries to Europe since 1 January 2008.
Furthermore, in compliance with the contract, the Belarusian party was paying for 55% of gas deliveries on condition of the outstanding sum to be paid by 23 July 2007 and the 100% payment to be started since 1 July.
31 December 2006 the Gazprom and the government of Belarus signed the protocol on Belarus selling and the Gazprom buying of 50% of the Beltransgaz for USD 2.5 billion paid by equal sums during 4 years.
Thus Belarus has got the time lag for adaptation to the new price.
It was declared by the Gazprom that the deferred payment for the period of January -June 2007 totaled USD 456.16 million. It was stressed by the Russian company that violating the valid contract Belarus didn’t effect the payments; neither had it provided any payment guaranties. Moreover, the Gazprom timely transferred USD 625 billion for the acquired 12.5% of the Beltransgaz stock.