Ministry of Energy reports progress in gas negotiations with Russia
The Ministry of Energy has reported progress in the gas negotiations with Russia. Minister of Energy Uladzimir Patupchyk met with his Russian counterpart Alexander Novak in Moscow, BELTA reports. The next negotiations may also be held in Moscow in May, he noted.
Belarus does not owe money to Russia and is not asking for discounts, Patupchyk said. “We just want Russia to stick to the normative legal documents,” the Belarusian Minister said. Russians have finally listened to Belarus and have started understanding our position, he stated.
Belarus owes more than $125 million to Gazprom and the sum keeps increasing, Russian Minister of Energy Alexander Novak said last week. There is no debt and the problem is in the interpretation of the gas agreements, Belarusian Minister of Energy Uladzimir Patupchyk commented on the statement later. He even admitted that the issue could be settled in court.
Belarus bought Russian gas for $142 for 1 thousand cubic meters in 2015. However, the Belarusian administration is hoping to get a ’fair’ price this year – $73.
