Belarus to Pay Less for Russian Gas: Deputy PM

Belarusian deputy prime minister Vladimir Semashko said in an interview with Belarus 1 television, during the weekend, that the price of gas supplied to the country will fall year on year, following its recent revised deal with Gazprom.

Under the framework of agreements signed with Russia, the price for Russian gas supplied to Belarus will be $129/’000 m3 in 2018 and $127 in 2019, said Semashko, according to a report relayed by Belarusian news service TUT. That corresponds to $3.58/mn Btu in 2018 and $3.53 in 2019.

Gazprom said last week that the new price agreed for Belarus is linked to the price in the Yamal-Nenets autonomous district of western Siberia.

Semashko however went further, stating that the new price for Belarus is fixed and does not depend on how the economy develops. Under the old contract, the price would be $150/’000 m³, he added (equivalent to $4.17/mn Btu). The new contract for the supply of Russian gas to Belarus will be a two-year contract, whereas the current one expiring at end-2017 is a three-year contract, he noted.

Vladimir Semashko is one of five Belarusian deputy prime ministers  (Photo credit: Belarus government)

The deputy PM also said that from April 18, Russia will increase oil supplies to Minsk from 23 million to 24 million tons annually.

Azerbaijan Desk