Draft agreement on creating Belarus-Russia common energy market to be submitted to countries' governments soon - Belarusian Energy Ministry

MINSK. Oct 11 (Interfax) - The draft agreement on creating the Belarus-Russia common electricity market has passed domestic approval procedures, and it should be submitted to the governments of the respective countries soon, Belarusian Energy Minister Viktor Karankevich said.

"The agreement on forming the market has practically passed the domestic procedures, and it will be submitted soon for consideration to the governments of the two countries," Karankevich was quoted as saying by the Belarusian Energy Ministry's press service.

Karankevich also commented on establishing united gas markets and on cooperating in nuclear energy, as envisaged by the union programs approved in November last year.

"In terms of implementing the union program on creating a unified natural gas market, active discussions are currently underway with the Russian side on the gas price for Belarus for 2023, as well as on the principles of market formation," the energy minister said.

"In terms of nuclear energy, nearly all items of the program have been completed. By the end of the year, it is planned to sign an intergovernmental agreement on handling radioactive waste," Karankevich added.