No Gas In New Year?

The government doesn’t know the prices for gas for Belarus in 2017.

Belarus doesn’t know yet what will be the price for the Russian gas for it in 2017, Deputy Energy Minister Vadzim Zakreuski has said on Tuesday in Minsk, BelTA writes.

“The cost of gas also remains unknown yet. We are saying that the subjects of economy have been balanced on the assumption of the prognoses that we had for the year 2016. So far, the tariff policy will remain at the level of 2016,” – he has said.

Zakreuski has noted that the negotiations between Minsk and Moscow with regard to the terms for oil and gas supplies in 2017 are in progress.

“Therefore, we cannot disclaim any details or send the suggestions on the tariffs for individuals to the Ministry for Anti-Monopoly Regulation and Trade,” – the deputy Energy Minister has added.

He has also informed that the energy balance for 2017 between Russia and Belarus has not been agreed yet. Moreover, Minsk so far lacks the knowledge of how much energy the country is going to buy abroad in 2017.

“We should not forget it doesn’t influence us much, there is no misbalance. However, alongside with that, if Russia offers an acceptable price given our prime cost, we will consider the necessity of purchase,” – Zakreuski has said.

"The debts for the natural gas at the domestic market account for about $ 300 million. There are also debts for electricity and heat of about $ 400 million," – Vadzim Zakreuski has said.

According to him, this debt continues to increase. In this situation, to pay the debts the country is forced to obtain loans for the working capital financing. "The enterprises of the Energy Ministry are forced to take loans and ensure timely payments to the external supplier of energy", – he has stated.