The price of Russian gas for Belarus in 2011 at 250 dollars per thousand cubic meters is just a forecast and takes into account the absence of 30% duty. It was stated on June 9 by Economic Adviser of Russian Embassy in Belarus, Andrei Kuznetsov.
«The price of gas is formed counting oil component», the diplomat said. «That’s why 250 dollars per thousand cubic meters is a forecast of Gazprom. The company is planning its actions, monitoring oil trends».
«This price is based on long-term contract with the Belarusian side, the last year of contract term is 2011. It is written in the current contract. Gazprom did not promise the Belarusian side anything else», Andrei Kuznetsov said, adding that next year’s contract with Belarus stipulates 1 factor against 0.9 this year (100% of European gas prices compared to 90%).
The diplomat added one time more that gas for Belarus would be supplied in the coming year as it for today, without the 30% export duty, «not levying which only in 2010 means the direct subsidization of Belarusian economy from Russian budget in the amount of about 1.3 billion dollars, what, taking in account Belarusian economy scale, is enormous value», PRIME-TASS informs.
«The Russian side has repeatedly and at different levels, including governmental, recalled the need of the Belarusian side to comply with conditions of the existing gas contract in 2010. These appeals must be heard, Belarus must pay in accordance with the contractual agreements», Andrei Kuznetsov said.
As Telegraf previously reported, the Gazprom spokesman, Sergei Kupriyanov, reminded that Belarus was violating the contract by paying for gas at last year’s price of 150 dollars per thousand cubic meters, although in the first quarter of 2010 it had to pay 169 dollars that had already led to the arrears’ emergence amounting to about 200 million dollars.
According to Sergei Kupriyanov, in the second quarter of this year gas price for Belarus will amount to 184.8 dollars per thousand cubic meters, while the average price will increase up to about 187 dollars, what will depend on changes in prices of oil and petroleum products in Europe.
«It means that if nothing changes and Beltransgaz continues to pay at itself set price of 150 dollars, then the debt will be accumulated from month to month and at the end of the year it will be equal to more than half a billion dollars», Gazprom official representative summed up.
