BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

29/11/2006

Gazprom has preliminary value estimates of Beltransgaz - spokesman

MOSCOW, November 29 (Itar-Tass) - Gazprom has already received preliminary materials on the evaluation of the assets of Beltransgaz, a Belarussian gas transportation company, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov told Itar-Tass on Tuesday evening.

"We received the preliminary materials of expert evaluation of the Belarussian company's assets on November 24, they are now under consideration," Kupriyanov said.

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was in the Belarussian capital for a summit with CIS leaders, said Moscow and Minsk had agreed on setting up a joint venture on parity basis by Gazprom and Beltransgaz. The JV is likely to be set up before the end of this year.

"Gazprom, together with Beltransgaz will set up a joint company with equal stakes," Putin told reporters. "Hopefully, it will be done shortly certainly before the New Year," he added.

On the whole, "there's an understanding between Russia and Belarus how problems might be resolved, including in the energy sphere," Putin said after talks with Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Source:

http://www.tass.ru/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11028453&PageNum=0