Belarusian officials believe payment was short
11- 25.06.2010, 8:59
The authorities do not like the sum Gazprom paid for transit of Russian gas.
Beltransgaz insists on the rate for natural gas transit to be $1.88 per 1000 cubic meters per 100 km currently, stated the company’s CEO Uladzimir Majorau, RIA Novosti informs.
Gazprom has repaid the debt for gas transit proceeding from the rate of $1.45 per 1000 cubic meters per 100 km. “At the moment the rate of $1.88 per 1000 cubic meters per 100 km is used, as it is noted in the protocol of the sides,” stated Majorau.
On Thursday Belarus received $228 mln as a payment from Gazprom for gas transit. However, the spokesperson of the Russian holding Sergei Kupriyanov stated that the payment had been made in accordance with the contract in force, which envisages the rate of transit of $1.45. Proceeding from the rate demanded by Belarus, the payment should have been $260 mln.
On Thursday Kupriyanov said that Gazprom sent documents to Belarus which signing would allow increase the rate for transit of the Russian gas, under a condition that Minsk would increase domestic wholesale prices at which the fuel is sold by Beltransgaz, which 50% are owned by Gazprom. The matter concerns a special addition to the contract.
