BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

01/12/2006

Belarusian Official Announces 'Relatively Close' Value Of Beltransgas

Belarusian Deputy Economy Minister Aleh Melnikau told journalists in Minsk on November 30 that the Dutch ABN AMRO bank has estimated the value of Beltranshaz, Belarus's gas pipeline operator, at "relatively close" to $3.5 billion, Belapan and "Kommersant" reported. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Minsk earlier this week that Belarus and Russia "have agreed in advance" to accept the appraisal of Beltranshaz made by the Dutch evaluator. Russia's government-controlled gas giant, Gazprom, has sought to acquire a 50 percent stake in Beltranshaz for several years but has not been able to agree on a price with Minsk. Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka suggested earlier this month that Beltranshaz may be worth as much as $12 billion and that the Dutch appraisal would mean little in talks with Gazprom on establishing a joint venture to control Belarusian gas pipelines (see "RFE/RL Newsline," November 14, 2006). Russian newspapers speculate that by selling a 50 percent stake in Beltranshaz to Gazprom, Minsk will be able to receive Russian gas at $120-$130 per 1,000 cubic meters for up to 18 months starting in January 2007. Gazprom signaled earlier this year that it wants to increase its gas price for Belarus in 2007 to $200 per 1,000 cubic meters from the current $47. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2006/12/3-cee/cee-011206.asp