17 Jun 2009 19:00

Gazprom demands Beltransgaz Pay $230 Mln debt

MINSK. June 17 (Interfax) - Russia's Gazprom has demanded that Belarus' Beltransgaz pay a $230 million debt for gas supplied in January - April, Andrei Kuznetsov, the counselor for economic affairs at the Russian embassy to Belarus, told Interfax.

"Gazprom sent a letter to Beltransgaz demanding the payment of the debt for supplies in January - April. The debt without penalties and fines for not utilizing the contracted gas volumes amounts to slightly more than $230 million," Kuznetsov said.

This sum is the difference between the contracted price of supplies in January - April and de-facto payments by the Belarusian side, he said.

"In the letter Gazprom draws attention of Beltransgaz to the need to pay for the gas supply in May in time, before June 23, and in full," the diplomat said.

"Now the issue is about the core debt of the Belarusian side," Kuznetsov said. commenting on penalties and fines mentioned in the letter.

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