Gazprom and Belarus have signed a pricing deal for the natural gas
the Russian gas monopoly supplies to the former Soviet republic.
Gazprom CEO
Alexey Miller and Belarus Deputy Prime Minister
Vladimir Semashko signed
in Moscow on April 13 the Protocol between Gazprom and the Government
of Belarus on the pricing procedure for natural gas supplied to Belarus.
The Protocol defines the pricing procedure for 2018–2019, Gazprom
said in a press release. Pursuant to the document, the pricing will be
based on a price formula linked to the price of gas in the Yamal-Nenets
Autonomous Area.
Over the course of 2017, gas will be supplied under the existing contract.
Meanwhile, TASS quoted Russian Energy Minister
Alexander Novak
as saying on April 14 that the agreement made between Gazprom and
Belarus and stipulating a discount for Russian gas supplies in 2018-2019
does not provide compensation of company’s losses.
“No. All the agreements signed and presented yesterday (April 13) do
not anticipate any individual compensation. They are economic agreements
between Gazprom and Belarus on gas supplies and possible prices and
discounts available,” Novak said responding to a question whether
compensation is planned to Gazprom for revenues to be lost because of
the gas discount.
Russia and Belarus settled the oil and gas dispute continuing from
early 2016. Minsk repaid $726 million debt for Russian gas supplies in
2016-2017 and Gazprom agreed to offer a discount to the gas price
formula for Belarus in 2018-2019. Gas deliveries in 2017 are taking
place on conditions of the current contract, according to the Russian
news agency.
Belarus will independently decide whether it directs duty-free oil
supplied from Russia to its refineries or to other countries, Novak
added.
“As far as destinations of this crude oil are concerned, [it will be
directed] either to refineries or to third countries. Belarus will
independently handle its issue and submit its proposals for purposes of
preparing an indicative balance,” Novak said.
https://www.neweurope.eu/article/gazprom-belarus-ink-gas-pricing-protocol/