There Is No Critical Situation with Gas Supplies through Belarus, Russian Ministry of Energy

23.06.2010 12:41
Архив Редакция

Russian Energy Minister, Sergei Shmatko, stated that for the date it would be incorrect to speak about critical situation with gas supplies to Europe via Belarus. "If you pay attention, then our traditional European consumers do not even say a word on the issue, do not raise the alarm", the head of Russian Ministry of Energy said.

According to Russian minister, Gazprom has tools to compensate consequences of possible blocking of Belarusian gas transit to Europe and do not break the contract for gas supply to European consumers, RIA Novosti informs.

«Even if we imagine that there are no certain opportunities, then in circumstances when European consumers reduce consumption, (…) today it is incorrect to talk about political risks, to give political assessment of gas supplies security, and in this respect, Europe itself acts very reasonably», Sergei Shmatko said.

Moreover, Russia’s Minister of Energy noted the EU might send independent observers to fix unsanctioned gas intake by Belarus, but it was not necessary so far.

As Telegraf previously reported, the stoppage of Russian gas transit to Europe was announced by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, on June 22. At the same time, until now Belarus has not restricted the «blue fuel» supply through its territory.

Acting this way Belarus seeks Gazprom to sink the debt for gas transit over five months of this year, amounting to about 260 million dollars.

In their turn, the Russian side demands Belarus to repay the debt for gas supplies in January-April of 2010 of approximately 190 million dollars (192 million dollars under Gazprom version and 187 million according to the Belarusian side — Telegraf) and has already reduced «blue fuel» supply to Belarus by 60% of the planned volume.

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