In Q1 2010 Belarus to pay $168 for gas

The Russian monopolist has announced the gas price for Belarus in Q1 2010.

It has been informed by Gazprom’s press service after negotiations between Belarus First Vice Premier Uladzimir Syamashka and Gazprom CEO Aleksei Miller on 30 December, RBK informs.

This year the average price for Russian gas supplied to Belarus was 11% lower and amounted to roughly $150 per 1,000 cubic meters, Alexei Miller said.

He noted that because of absence of export due, gas price for Belarus is much lower than for other buyers of Russian gas, and “previously agreed transition period for higher prices allows the Belarusian economy to get adapted for that”.

As charter97.org previously informed, Belarusian authorities stated that “Gazprom” should maintain the existing favourable conditions for at least a year, as spot prices for gas in Europe are falling. However at Belarusian-Russian talks the Russian side stated that Gazprom insists on rising average annual price for Belarus form $146 to $164 per 1,000 cubic metres.

In mid December at a press-conference in Minsk Russian vice premier Igor Sechin stated that the Russian party thinks official Minsk could partially compensate for the increase in gas prices for Belarus at the cost of the financial resources transferred by Gazprom to form a stake in Beltransgaz.

We would like to note that Belarusian draft budget for year 2010 is based on Russian gas price equal to $166 per 1,000.