Gazprom demands to pay debt and fines for underutilizing gas

• 19.06.2009, 16:36

New conditions of payment debts for gas supplied to Belarus in January–April have been made to official Minsk.

Gazprom insists that Beltransgaz should pay the debt for gas supplied to Belarus in January–April and penalties for not utilizing the contracted gas volumes amounts; Gazprom hasn’t set concrete terms, PRIME TASS learnt this on Friday from Andrei Kuznetsov, a counsellor on economic affairs of the Russia’s Embassy in Belarus.

“The issue is in paying $231 million debt for gas supplies in January to April and penalties for not utilizing gas,” the diplomat said.

To a question if Gazprom set up any terms for payment, Kuznetsov said: “Gazprom didn’t define the terms, it just said the debt must be paid.”

According to the information the agency got from a source close to the Russian fuel and energy sector, the case is in penalties for not utilizing the contracted gas amounts during all month except for January.

In May 2009, Kuznetsov said Gazprom wouldn’t insist to pay penalties for not utilizing the con tracted gas amounts in January 2009, but the issue on February and March hadn’t been solved.

In February–March, Gazprom paid $250 million for gas transit via Belarus in 2009 in advance in hope Beltransgaz will pay for gas according to the contract but not according to the annual average price.