Minsk again discontent of gas prices :: Charter'97 :: News

Hardly had the latest “gas” argument between Gazprom and Belarus died down the new one broke out. Despite of the agreement on the gas price formula adopted for the forthcoming 4 years Minsk wishes one thousand cubic meters gas price not to exceed USD 130.

It is to be mentioned that last winter Gazprom and Belatransgaz signed a complete package of agreements. In particular, the price formula was adopted according to which the one thousand cubic meters gas price is to amount to the average European price less 33%.In 2009 the discount will be decreased to 20%, in 2010 –to 10%.And since 2011 Belarus is to start paying for gas as any other European state including the transport fees, the Finansoviye Izvestiya remarks.

A smooth transfer period, as the Gazprom declared, is grounded by the fact that Minsk and Moscow are establishing a union state and 50% of the Belatransgaz stock is to become the Russian concern’s ownership by 2011.

Though it seems that the ground for the conflict is being prepared in Minsk. Leave the formula for the formula but the price shall not exceed USD 130, the Belarusian government considers. “There is the first deputy of the prime minister of Belarus Uladzimir Syamashka‘s instruction to agree with Gazprom on the price of around USD 130 in 2008”, the representative of the power-engineering ministry of Belarus said. They consider in Minsk that the price has to be at this level with regard of the assumed development trend of oil prices and conditions of the 4-year contract on gas deliveries to Belarus.

The work on of the new price substantiation is underway though the negotiations themselves are to be held in autumn. The experts say that they are likely to be complicated as Alyaksandr Lukasahenka is going to fight for every kopek. However, the latest argument of Minsk and Moscow showed that their most vital tool is the gas valve. That means that the parties will have nothing to do but to agree.