Russia proposes to switch to cash payment at EU rates for gas transit through Georgia
MOSCOW. Jan 11 (Interfax) - Russian gas giant Gazprom has proposed to its Georgian partners to switch to monetary payment at European rates for transit of Russian gas to Armenia, Gazprom Export said in a statement following negotiations in Minsk on Tuesday between Gazprom Export CEO Yelena Burmistrova and Georgian Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze.
Russia ships gas to Armenia through Georgia. Previously, payment for the service of transporting gas through Georgia was made with supplies of natural gas equivalent to 10% of the amount of gas actually transported.
"In the global gas trade, payment for transit in kind has not been used for many years already. The Russian side proposed to its partners to switch to settlements for gas transportation services in monetary form on the basis of rates used in EU countries," the company said.
"Gazprom Export has made a package proposal to the Georgian side on optimal and mutually beneficial conditions that will make it possible to provide the Georgian side with a guaranteed income from gas transportation services and increase the reliability of gas supplies for Georgia," Burmistrova was quoted as saying in the press release.