Belarussian first deputy prime minister said on Saturday Belarus
and Russian gas giant Gazprom have reached an agreement to sell gas
to Belarus at US$100 per 1,000 cubic meters from Jan. 1, 2007, but
Gazprom did not confirm the statement.
According to the Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko who told a
briefing in Minsk on Saturday evening, Belarus and Gazprom have
also agreed on the charge for Russian gas transit through Belarus
to Europe, raising it from US$0.75 to 1.65 per 1,000 cubic meters
for every 100 km, the Interfax news agency reported.
"Another essential point that has been agreed is payment for
shares in (Belarussian gas transport company) Beltransgaz in cash
-- immediately or in installments for no more than a year, but with
interest," Semashko said.
Gazprom would acquire a 50 percent stake in Beltransgaz and pay
US$2.5 billion for it on the basis of the company's highest
valuation of US$5 billion, which has been recognized by Gazprom,
Semashko said.
But the prices for gas imports into Belarus in 2008-2010 have
not been agreed upon yet, Semashko said.
However, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov denied the
agreement.
"We consider it premature to comment on intermediary results (of
talks) and we point out that we are holding negotiations on a
five-year contract," Kupriyanov said.
"The figures voiced by Mr. Semashko at the news conference are
his point of view and the position of the Belarussian side at the
negotiations but by no means any real agreements with Gazprom," he
said.
Belarus is buying gas from Russia at US$46.7 per 1,000 cubic
meters. The current contract expires on Dec. 31.
Gazprom is demanding Belarus pay US$105 per 1,000 cubic meters
next year, with US$75 in cash and US$30 in shares in
Beltransgaz.
The company announced on Friday that it is not going to
backtrack on the terms made earlier to Belarus for gas
supplies.
"The offer we have made is very comfortable. It is the best in
the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and we don't quite
understand why we should backtrack on it. There are no reasons to
further improve this offer, either," Gazprom spokesman Sergei
Kupriyanov said on Vesti TV program.
(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2006)
