Deputy Chairman of Gazprom, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Belgazprombank, Andrei Kruglov, announced on March 26 that this year's average price of Russian gas to Minsk will be 171.5 dollars for a thousand cubic meters. "Basing on previous agreements, in 2010 we apply 0.9 reduction factor", Andrei Kruglov said.
«We expect that the payments will be based on that», the deputy chairman of Gazprom said. — «For the present, there is a debt for supplied gas, and we expect that it will be paid».
Andrei Kruglov noted that by now Belarusian debt for Russian gas amounts to 94.5 million, BelTA informs.
The deputy head of Gazprom also reported that Beltransgaz fully paid for Russian gas for 2009, at the end of December.
Gazprom is interested in gaining control over Beltransgaz, Kruglov
According to the representative of Russian company, today he doesn’t know «about any signals from Belarusian side of its willingness to grant Gazprom controlling block of shares».
«As regards of Gazprom corporative investment’s policy, we certainly aspire to gain control», Andrei Kruglov noted.- » The question with Beltransgaz is not only in the sphere of the economic entities’ relationship, it is also a question of interstate agreements.
The deputy head of Gazprom also noted that the principal shareholder of the Russian company is the state. «The main shareholder of Beltransgaz is the state, too. So, of course, we will adjust our investment plans basing on intergovernmental and interstate agreements», Andrei Kruglov said.
Gazprom will carefully consider the investment proposals of Belarus, Kruglov
Speaking on the investment strategy of the Russian company, Andrei Kruglov marked that, first of all, it is to invest in the profile company’s business — production, transportation and sale of gas. «Therefore, Gazprom’s investment in Beltransgaz are the part of the existing intergovernmental agreements», the representative of Gazprom said.
On the other hand, Andrei Kruglov said that it fully meets Gazprom’s intracorporate investment policy to invest in the development of transport infrastructure, which Beltransgaz transportation system is.
«Regarding to further investment in the territory of Belarus, then, of course, every offer and every decision will be considered very carefully and meticulously in the frames of those corporate profitability standards that exist in Russian company», the deputy chairman of Gazprom informed.
Andrei Kruglov reminded that the corporate profitability rate is at least 12% on invested capital. «The company intends to ensure that all implemented projects conform to the internal norms of the company», the representative of «Gazprom» said, adding that it is too early to talk about any specific projects, because no decision taken yet.
