Minister of Energy: Belarus gas debt by the I half was $ 270 million – TASS

MOSCOW, July 20. / TASS /. The debt of Belarus for Russian gas in the first six months of 2016 reached $ 270 million, said in an interview with Reuters, Energy Minister Alexander Novak

“Our position:. The debts that are now accumulated, to be repaid For half the debt. Belarus to Belarus, “daughter” of “Gazprom” is $ 270 million, “- said the Minister

Novak noted that the given instructions in the next few days to continue talks and seek a compromise.. He said that negotiations are underway and oil supplies.

“Our Russian companies now are actively negotiating with the” Belneftekhim “about processing. Negotiations complex, because of the need to negotiate the price of processing, as well as the output value petroleum products, “- said Novak

according to him, the amount and terms of Russian oil supplies to Belarusian refineries will become apparent as a result of commercial negotiations between Minsk and Moscow

With a sharp issue in relations between the two countries.. in recent years are the negotiations on the price of Russian gas for Belarus, but progress in the negotiations still do not.

Earlier, the head of “Gazprom” Alexei Miller said that the issue of debt for the gas supplied by JSC “Gazprom transgaz Belarus “to local consumers is a matter of cooperation of Belarusian companies. According to him, “Gazprom” receives the money in full for gas supplies to Belarus.

With the gas issue and linked the reduction of oil supplies to Belarus in the third quarter of 2016. They were reduced in connection with the failure to supply oil products to the Belarusian refineries, which are made from Russian oil supplied to Minsk duty-free.

Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said that Russia due to underpayment for gas supplies has decided to reduce the oil supplies to Belarus.

The current price of gas supplies to Minsk is $ 132 for 1 thousand. cubic meters. However, the Ministry of Energy of Belarus considers a fair price of $ 73 per 1 thousand. Cubic meters.

“Gazprom Transgaz Belarus” appealed to the International Arbitration Court at the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce in connection with the underpayment of Belarusian entities supply management for the Russian gas. At the same time Vladimir Patupchyk Energy Minister of Belarus said that Belarus has no debt to “Gazprom”.