Belarus and Russia settle differences in matters of energy supplies from Russia, announced today the Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. According to the state news Agency BelTA.
“I met yesterday with a government report on oil and gas issues with the Russian Federation. I understand that the next battle is over and we managed to sign a corresponding document. Problematic issues, at least for yesterday, was agreed and removed,” — said Lukashenko.
Vice-Premier of Belarus Vladimir Semashko has been provided with the details of the agreements. According to him, Russia is ready to restore oil supplies to Belarus, and Minsk in turn, refuses to raise tariffs for the transit of Russian raw materials to Europe.
“We have adjusted all current moments. You know that in the third quarter blocked half of the oil supplies to Belarus. We were supposed to receive 6 million tons, and now actually get only 3 million tonnes. Now everything is restored. Until October 20 needs to recover the oil supply in full under full utilization of our refineries, he said. We also made compromise steps. Was recently raised tariffs on oil transit as we return back. That is, are those the rates that were in effect as of October 1”.
Thus, the tariff blackmail Minsk worked. Recall that in late September, Belarus announced that it would unilaterally raise tariffs for the transit of Russian oil to the West through the pipeline “Druzhba”. Tariffs should grow in one and a half times since October 11. It was the answer of Minsk on Moscow reduced oil supplies to Belarus in the third quarter.
Resolved the gas dispute?
Russia, in turn, have taken this step in response to the chronic underpayment for the delivered gas. In the beginning of 2016 Minsk started the conversation, against the background of cheaper gas to the EU Belarus is entitled to pay for Russian fuel on the basis of the principle of equal profitability with the export price to Europe. That is, to insist on reducing the cost of imports.
Belarusian consumers since January began to underpay the only importer of gas from Russia — the Gazprom subsidiary “Gazprom transgaz Belarus” — about $ 50 per thousand cubic meters. Later it became known that Belarus wants in the event of rising energy prices in Europe reserve the right to return from the formula equal to the old pricing — the price of gas on the Yamal Peninsula, plus the cost of transit.
Another round of gas talks was held in Moscow last Friday. Lukashenka stated that Belarus is ready to compromise in negotiations with Russia on energy. Judging by today’s Belarusian leader, in this dispute, it is too early to put an end.
“We do not demand anything extra from Russian Federation. We demand that our businesses and our people were in equal terms in the Union of Belarus and Russia in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Treaty of Union construction. That’s the only thing we demand, — said Lukashenko. — It will be a major issue in the future, my talks with President Putin. I will not deal with any accounting estimates. The main thing will be it.”
“Somewhere we some issues needs to move and move over — is Russia’s interest in Belarus is huge. But if we see their future in a unified whole, we need to go and that we must insist”, — added the President of Belarus.
However, Semashko said today that in the gas dispute between Moscow and Minsk have reached a compromise. According to Deputy Prime Minister, agreed to return the Russian side of “a certain accumulated amount”, which Russia considers as the debt for the supply of gas. After that, the price of gas for Belarus will be significantly reduced.
“We have the money to return back. But instead we got a simultaneous significant reduction in the price of gas already this year and other support from Russia,” — said Semashko.
He added that Belarus and Russia “outlined the trajectory of decline rates in subsequent years”.
