Report: Russian gas price for Belarus to remain at $132 – PM

MINSK, Oct 31 (PRIME) -- The price for Russian gas for Belarus will remain at U.S. $132 per 1,000 cubic meters, Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov said in an interview to local television channel Mir broadcast on October 30.

“The price is as it is, it stands at $132,” he said, adding that the gas dispute with Russia was resolved under the agreements reached within the Eurasian Economic Union.

“We have to establish a common power market in 2019 and a common oil and gas market in 2025,” he said.

In July, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Belarus owes Russian gas giant Gazprom $270 million. Gazprom said Minsk underpays the company, while Belarusian Energy Minister Vladimir Potupchik said that a fair price would amount to $73 per 1,000 cubic meters instead of $132.77. Minsk did not acknowledge the debt.

After negotiations on October 7, Russia agreed to cut the 2016 gas price and outlined a plan of further reductions for the next few years for Belarus, while Minsk agreed to redeem its debt for past deliveries. Belarusian Energy Minister Vladimir Potupchik said on October 21 that the country planned to redeem its $281 million debt to Russia then.

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