Russia stands undecided on gas price for Belarus in 2021 – expert
<p> MINSK, Oct 26 - PrimePress. Russia has not yet made a final decision on the natural gas supply terms and the gas price for Belarus in 2021, says Igor Yushkov, expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, senior analyst for the National Energy Security Fund of Russia. </p> <p> </p> <p> “It is quite possible that Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko have reached strategic agreements: discounts in exchange for continued integration,” says Yushkov. </p> <p> </p> <p> He believes there is still a certain transitional period, as Moscow expects Minsk’s decisive steps towards integration. </p> <p> </p> <p> “The Russian leadership is willing to keep the price at $127 per 1,000 cubic meters during this transitional period,” he says. </p> <p> </p> <p> “Before the election, when Lukashenko resorted to anti-Russian rhetoric, I’d say that Moscow would deny a discount under the agreement signed on February 14, 2020, which is in force until December 31, 2020. And we would come back to around $150 per 1,000 cubic meters, i.e. the price [of gas for Belarus in 2021] would be only determined by a commercial contract,” Yushkov says. </p> <p> </p> <p> Belarus imports about 20 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia per year at the price of $127 per 1,000 cubic meters as agreed in February 2020. The statistically higher price than that indicated in the contract ($130 against $127) is likely due to the increased calorific value of the supplied gas, as Russian Gazprom said. Belarus does not agree that the calorific value of gas has increased, and pays the price that it set unilaterally, which resulted in the $300 million debt to Gazprom. End </p>
2020-10-27
Primepress
Russia stands undecided on gas price for Belarus in 2021 – expert
MINSK, Oct 26 - PrimePress. Russia has not yet made a final decision on the natural gas supply terms and the gas price for Belarus in 2021, says Igor Yushkov, expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, senior analyst for the National Energy Security Fund of Russia.
“It is quite possible that Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko have reached strategic agreements: discounts in exchange for continued integration,” says Yushkov.
He believes there is still a certain transitional period, as Moscow expects Minsk’s decisive steps towards integration.
“The Russian leadership is willing to keep the price at $127 per 1,000 cubic meters during this transitional period,” he says.
“Before the election, when Lukashenko resorted to anti-Russian rhetoric, I’d say that Moscow would deny a discount under the agreement signed on February 14, 2020, which is in force until December 31, 2020. And we would come back to around $150 per 1,000 cubic meters, i.e. the price [of gas for Belarus in 2021] would be only determined by a commercial contract,” Yushkov says.
Belarus imports about 20 billion cubic meters of gas from Russia per year at the price of $127 per 1,000 cubic meters as agreed in February 2020. The statistically higher price than that indicated in the contract ($130 against $127) is likely due to the increased calorific value of the supplied gas, as Russian Gazprom said. Belarus does not agree that the calorific value of gas has increased, and pays the price that it set unilaterally, which resulted in the $300 million debt to Gazprom. End