BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

22/06/2010

Expert: Ukraine may benefit from 'gas war' between Russia and Belarus

KYIV, June 22. /UKRINFORM/. The conflict between Russia and Belarus over gas supplies is a new "gas war," Director of Energy Programs at the Razumkov Center Volodymyr Saprykin has said, UKRINFORM reported, with reference to InterMediaConsulting.

"This is, in principle, a new 'gas war' that will affect all neighbors... If we talk about certain countries benefiting from this war, Ukraine will get certain advantages due to an increase in the transit of gas that will pass through Ukraine, rather than Belarus," he said.

"Belarus signed with Gazprom a contract on gas deliveries at one price, but pays at another price," Saprykin said. Moscow assessed Belarus' gas debt at nearly USD 200 million.

As UKRINFORM reported, Gazprom on June 21 restricted gas supplies to Belarus by 15% with a subsequent increase in restrictions to 85%.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev earlier ordered Gazprom's leadership to reduce gas supplies to Belarus.

Experts, including those from Russia, believe that Gazprom may redirect gas transits flows to Europe through Ukraine in the event of any problems with Belarus.

Source:

http://bsanna-news.ukrinform.ua/newsitem.php?id=13400&lang=en


Partners:
Face.by Social Network
Face.by