Belarus makes advance payment for Russian gas


Belarus has paid for Russian gas ahead of schedule. A spokesman for Prime Minister Uladzislau Sychevich reported that in October 2016 at the level of the governments of Belarus and Russia there was reached an agreement and specific mechanisms to address the problematic issues in the oil and gas sector were determined.

“However, their implementation was delayed. Belarus is interested in the fastest possible settlement of the situation. In this connection, as a first step and gesture of goodwill, Belarus has made an advance payment for gas ahead of schedule,” said Sychevich.

He added that Belarus is counting on reciprocal goodwill of the Russian side in the form of an early recovery in crude oil supplies to Belarus.

According to Sychevich, the Belarusian side hopes that Russian partners will start the practical implementation of the “essential October agreement, including the terms of delivery of natural gas to Belarus”.

In October, Belarus was late in paying the debt for gas. The government was to transfer to “Gazprom” $ 281 million. Later, it became known that Minsk had not transferred money for Russian gas, as it expected signing of “some” agreements.

Watch video for expense of oil and gas conflict

Against the backdrop of the gas dispute and a default on deliveries of petroleum products, Russia reduced the supply of oil to Belarusian refineries by 5.25 million tons, which crushed the export of Belarusian oil products. The “gas war” has already cost Belarus 0.3% of GDP.

In response to the Russia’s measures, from October 11, Belarus wanted to raise tariffs for the transit of Russian oil through Belarusian territory by 50%. Later this resolution was canceled in exchange for the restoration of the full volume of oil supplies from Russia.

belsat.eu belta.by

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