Belarus, Russia to form unified balance of gas delivery, distribution - Gazprom chief
KOBRIN (BREST REGION). Aug 23 (Interfax) - Belarus and Russia will be moving to the formation of a unified balance of gas delivery and distribution, OJSC Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller has said.
"During the course of today's meeting it was pointed out that we will be considering during the setting of goals for the future a unified balance of gas delivery and distribution in Russia and Belarus," Miller told the press in Kobrin on Thursday.
He added that gas supply and distribution for Belarus and Russia will be "based on our overall opportunities and demand. These are two interconnected systems."
Commenting on Gazprom's pricing policy for Belarus after both countries have abandoned the principle of revenue parity, Miller said that Gazprom does not set the export price for gas as it is tied to world prices for oil.
"In regards to a single price policy, this is the path we've set. The price now for Belarus is much lower that the world market and we will continue with this policy," Miller said.
It was earlier reported that a the Belarusian-Russian intergovernmental agreement for pricing natural gas supply to Belarus and its transport via pipelines in this country, the gas price for Belarus in 2012 should come to $165.6 per 1,000 cubic meters, which is 36.6% under the average level set for 2011.
According to an estimate from the Belarusian Energy Ministry, the cost of Russian gas for the country in 2013 will come to $166 per 1,000 cubic meters and in 2014 - $178.
