BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

04/11/2006

Russia's natural gas for Belarus may cost $140 per 1,000 cm in 2007

MINSK, November 3 (Itar-Tass) -- The price of Russia's natural gas for Belarus may reach 140 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters in 2007, Russian Ambassador to Belarus Alexander Surikov told a Friday's news conference.

At first, the two countries concluded a general agreement on the creation of a joint gas transportation company on the Beltransgaz basis and on equal tariffs and prices for economic entities, he reaffirmed.

Then, the Belarussian side decided not to create the joint venture and denounced the agreement, Surikov went on to say, adding, "The gas price issue became very acute at once."

"Currently, the gas price for Belarus reaching 200 U.S. dollars per 1,000 cubic meters is mentioned in the documents," he said. "The gas customs duty will make 30 percent from the price. With this in mind, I do not exclude that the price will make 140 U.S. dollars, but not 200," Surkov added.

Source:

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=10954630&PageNum=0