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Union State

03.10.2008

A.Surikov Mentions Possible Rise in Gas Price for Belarus

Alexander Surikov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus, told the journalists that the price of Russian gas for Belarus in 2009 may amount to $250 per 1 thousand cubic meters.

Alexander Surikov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Belarus, told the journalists that the price of Russian gas for Belarus in 2009 may amount to $250 per 1 thousand cubic meters.

“If we try to make a rough calculation, then the price of gas for Belarus totals about $250 per 1 thousand cubic meters,” said A.Surikov meeting the journalists in Minsk.

The Ambassador recalled the long-taken Russian attitude with respect to negotiations in gas pricing sphere. “Four-year contract was signed in December 2006 and in 2007 we signed a bilateral memorandum as a base for political action. These two documents fixed economic and political components of bilateral relations,” said A.Surikov.

The contract reads that in 2009 the price of gas for Belarus will make up 80% of gas price for Poland after deduction of an export customs duty at the rate of 30%. The price also takes into account different costs of gas transit to Poland and gas transit to Belarus. “It is difficult to say what will be the exact price of gas for Belarus in 2009,” stressed the Ambassador.

Talking about the budgeted gas price at the rate of $140 per 1 thousand cubic meters, Alexander Surikov noted that “every country has the right to build into the budget the price it considers appropriate which means that the funds for stabilization will be somehow or other procured”.

Starting from October 1st 2008, continued the ambassador, the price of gas for Belarus will not change as in accordance with the entered engagements the price of gas deliveries to Belarus can be changed only once a year after the first quarter and increased not more than by 10%.

On April 1st 2008 the price of Russian gas for Belarus amounted to $129 per 1 thousand cubic meters as against $119 per 1 thousand cubic meters on January 1st 2008. By the end of 2008 Russian gas deliveries to Belarus will total 21.2 billion cubic meters. For the year 2009 Belarusian party requests 21 . 6 billion cubic meters.