Belarus says will pay for Russian gas in 2 weeks | Business | RIA Novosti

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Belarus will pay for Russian natural gas in two weeks, the country's first deputy prime minister said Monday.

"We expect that within two weeks we will find the opportunity," Vladimir Semashko said. "We will borrow, but we will pay for the gas."

"We are not hiding that we have difficulty with currency," he added. "We have to borrow."

Belarus has refused to pay higher prices this year, which increased to $169 per 1,000 cubic meters for the first quarter and $185 for the second quarter, and has continued to pay last year's rate of $150 instead.

Russian energy giant Gazprom had started cutting gas supplies to Belarus over the debt, which has reached $200 million. The cuts will gradually rise from 15% to 85% of daily supply.

MINSK, June 21 (RIA Novosti)


Belarus says will pay for Russian gas in 2 weeks | Business | RIA Novosti (http://en.rian.ru/business/20100621/159514182.html)

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Russia has informed the European Union about its gas dispute with Belarus, a European Commission spokeswoman said on Monday.

Marlene Holzner said Energy Commissioner Gunther Oettinger received a notification letter from Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko.

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said earlier on Monday that Gazprom had started cutting gas supplies to Belarus over the debt. The restriction will gradually rise from 15 to 85 percent of daily supply.

Belarus has refused to pay higher prices this year, which increased to $169 per 1,000 cubic meters for the first quarter and $185 for the second quarter, and has continued to pay last year's rate of $150 instead.

Belarusian First Deputy Energy Minister Eduard Tovpinets on Friday evening announced that Gazprom owed some $200 million to Belarus for gas transit fees to Europe, a charge Gazprom rejects.

Belarus has now admitted its debt but negotiations are underway concerning their repayment.

BRUSSELS, June 21 (RIA Novosti)


Russia informs EU of gas dispute with Belarus | Ex-Soviet States | RIA Novosti (http://en.rian.ru/exsoviet/20100621/159514148.html)

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Russia-Belarus gas crisis

Belarus refuses to pay the Russian gas price, set at $169 per 1,000 cubic meters for the first quarter of the year and $185 for the second quarter, and has been paying $150 since Jan. 1 instead.
Russian gas monopoly Gazprom has warned Belarus' pipeline firm Beltransgaz that it may cut gas supplies from June 21 over the cou
ntry's debts.