Russia’s ambassador: Belarus to pay 400 dollars for gas by 2011.
14- 9.06.2008, 13:21
Aleksandr Surikov, Russia’s ambassador to Belarus, has said today gas prices for Belarus can exceed 200 dollars in 2009.
“It’s difficult for me to say what the price in 2009 will be. But the price will be either about 200 dollars, or a little more,” the diplomat said.
Commenting on the fact, the draft Belarusian budget for 2009 is based on 140-dollar gas price, A. Surikov said: “It is a will of any state. One can base a budget on even less figure.”
Speaking about gas cost by 2011, the ambassador didn’t exclude gas prices could reach 400 dollars and higher.
“Gas can cost 400 dollars and higher. There are questions with it,” the ambassador said. He also added that “in any case gas price for Belarus will be lower than average European price.”
The ambassador also said the Russian party still insisted on non-tax deductions of Beltransgaz and was not going to yield in the matter.
“The Belarusian party has reduced a volume of deductions up to 8.1 per cent since the second semester, but the talks are still in progress. The Russian party is against, but because Gazprom has paid only 25 per cent in Beltransgaz’s stake, the Russian side is in the minority,” the ambassador told.
OAO Gazprom, possessing 25 per cent in OAO Beltransgaz’s stake, initiated in March cancelling of Beltransgaz’s deductions to innovation fund of the Ministry of Energy. The Russian party of the joint stock regards the non-tax deductions as the conditions, worsening activity of investor in Belarus, and thinks this practice stay in contradiction with the agreement on measures on development of trade and economic cooperation with Belarus.
Gazprom is to increase its stake in Beltransgaz to 50 per cent in early 2010 by paying USD 2.5 billion for the Belarusian gas transmission network’s shares.
Surikov also confirmed Russian could give a stabilisation loan of 2 billion dollars to Belarus, and said Russia wouldn’t display nuclear weapon in Belarus, as it contradicts the current international agreements.
