Belarus cannot decide what sources to use to pay Inter RAO
MINSK. June 28 (Interfax) - The Belarusian authorities have still not been able to find the currency needed to pay the debt to OAO Inter RAO UES, sources familiar with the situation told Interfax.
Belenergo has asked one of the Russian banks operational in Belarus for a loan to pay Inter RAO UES. The bank is ready to provide such a loan if the Belarusian National Bank guarantees to sell currency to Belenergo for subsequent payment to the bank. The National Bank has refused to provide such guarantees, saying the Belarusian government has its own currency that can be used to pay the debt to Inter RAO UES, the sources said. This position is also due to the decreasing volume of compulsory currency proceeds sale on the exchange on the background of an increase in the currency proceeds of Belarusian exporters.
According to earlier reports, the National Bank distributes exchange demand for currency on the basis of the amounts of its compulsory sale on approved priorities, including medications, gas, and the repayment of currency loans.
Interfax has not been able to receive official comments from the Belarusian Energy Ministry, Belenergo, and the National Bank.
According to earlier reports, Inter RAO UES on Tuesday did not get the next tranche of payment for electrical power from Belenergo and is prepared to halt supplies in the early hours of June 29.