No grounds for suspending Russian gas supplies to Belarus – Russian ambassador
<p> MINSK, Jun 17 - PrimePress. There are no grounds for restricting or suspending supplies of Russian gas to Belarus, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev told reporters on June 17, commenting on the information about a possible cessation of Russian gas supplies to Belarus from July 1, 2020 posted on some Telegram channels. </p> <p> </p> <p> “The Ministry of Energy of Russia says there is no reason to believe that supplies of Russian gas to Belarus may be limited or blocked some day in June or July, or even at any time,” said Mezentsev. </p> <p> </p> <p> He also said that the price of gas for Belarus will not change in 2020. “Today, supplies are carried out in accordance with the agreement signed by Ambassador of Belarus Vladimir Semashko. The price remains as determined by the agreement signed by the parties guided by the interests of each partner,” Mezentsev said. </p> <p> </p> <p> According to the ambassador, Russia is ready for talks on gas prices for Belarus from 2021. </p> <p> </p> <p> Belarus’ import of Russian gas totals 20 billion cubic meters per year. Belarus remains the second largest consumer of Russian gas after Germany. In February 2020, Gazprom head Alexei Miller and Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko approved the pricing procedure for the supply of Russian gas to Belarus in 2020. The price for Belarus remained at $127 per 1,000 cubic meters, which is the same as in 2019. Belarus has been insisting that Russian gas for Minsk should equal Russia’s domestic prices, as provided for by the 2011 agreement on the sale of Beltransgaz gas transmission company to Gazprom. Miller said in late May that Belarus had accumulated $165.57 million in debt for gas supplies since the beginning of 2020. Gazprom is ready to begin negotiations on gas supplies to Belarus in 2021, provided that Belarus respects the contract for 2020. End </p>
2020-06-18
Primepress
MINSK, Jun 17 - PrimePress. There are no grounds for restricting or suspending supplies of Russian gas to Belarus, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Dmitry Mezentsev told reporters on June 17, commenting on the information about a possible cessation of Russian gas supplies to Belarus from July 1, 2020 posted on some Telegram channels.
“The Ministry of Energy of Russia says there is no reason to believe that supplies of Russian gas to Belarus may be limited or blocked some day in June or July, or even at any time,” said Mezentsev.
He also said that the price of gas for Belarus will not change in 2020. “Today, supplies are carried out in accordance with the agreement signed by Ambassador of Belarus Vladimir Semashko. The price remains as determined by the agreement signed by the parties guided by the interests of each partner,” Mezentsev said.
According to the ambassador, Russia is ready for talks on gas prices for Belarus from 2021.
Belarus’ import of Russian gas totals 20 billion cubic meters per year. Belarus remains the second largest consumer of Russian gas after Germany. In February 2020, Gazprom head Alexei Miller and Belarusian Ambassador to Russia Vladimir Semashko approved the pricing procedure for the supply of Russian gas to Belarus in 2020. The price for Belarus remained at $127 per 1,000 cubic meters, which is the same as in 2019. Belarus has been insisting that Russian gas for Minsk should equal Russia’s domestic prices, as provided for by the 2011 agreement on the sale of Beltransgaz gas transmission company to Gazprom. Miller said in late May that Belarus had accumulated $165.57 million in debt for gas supplies since the beginning of 2020. Gazprom is ready to begin negotiations on gas supplies to Belarus in 2021, provided that Belarus respects the contract for 2020. End