UPDATE: Belarus says talks on Russian gas price continue

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MINSK, Aug 26 (PRIME) -- Negotiations about the price for Russian natural gas for Belarus have not been completed, Vladislav Sychevish, spokesman for Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov, told PRIME on Friday.

Earlier on Friday, Kommersant business daily reported citing sources that Moscow and Minsk have preliminary agreed that the price will fall to U.S. $100 per 1,000 cubic meters from about $132, and Belarus will redeem its debt. They also agreed that a ruble-denominated pricing formula will replace the U.S. dollar–denominated plan.

“The negotiations of the gas price are going on,” he said.

A representative of Gazprom Transgaz Belarus, a Belarusian affiliate of Russian gas giant Gazprom, also said the company is unable to confirm the agreement. “Until the sum is approved and announced at the government level, there is no sense in about it,” the representative said. “We cannot confirm anything right now.”

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

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