Russia tightens grip on gas supply to Belarus
By Nataliya Vasilyeva |
June 24, 2010, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
RUSSIA yesterday further reduced natural gas supplies to ex-Soviet neighbor Belarus over what it claims is a debt of nearly US$200 million, but said the transit of its deliveries to European customers has continued unimpeded.
Supplies to Belarus from Russia's state-controlled natural gas monopoly Gazprom were reduced by 60 percent yesterday, the company's Chief Executive Alexei Miller said on television.
Gazprom initially reduced supplies by 15 percent on Monday and cut them by another 15 percent Tuesday. It warned Belarus it would eventually cut the deliveries by 85 percent if it refuses to pay off its debt.
Belarus' Energy Ministry has warned the European Commission that cuts of more than 15 percent could lead to transit shortages.
But the transit of Russian gas to European customers has so far continued uninterrupted despite the Belarusian threat, Miller said yesterday.
Gazprom has insisted that European customers will not be affected by the shut-off as the company can reroute gas supplies through another pipeline crossing Ukraine.
About 80 percent of Russian gas exported to Europe normally goes through Ukraine, while the rest is carried via Belarusian pipelines.
Russia has cut gas supplies to both Ukraine and Belarus several times in recent years due to payment disputes, and many European consumers have suffered in winter temperatures.
Russia is Belarus' main ally and sponsor, but relations between the two former Soviet countries have been strained by financial arguments. Belarus has insisted that Russia should provide cheaper oil and gas, but Russia has refused.
Supplies to Belarus from Russia's state-controlled natural gas monopoly Gazprom were reduced by 60 percent yesterday, the company's Chief Executive Alexei Miller said on television.
Gazprom initially reduced supplies by 15 percent on Monday and cut them by another 15 percent Tuesday. It warned Belarus it would eventually cut the deliveries by 85 percent if it refuses to pay off its debt.
Belarus' Energy Ministry has warned the European Commission that cuts of more than 15 percent could lead to transit shortages.
But the transit of Russian gas to European customers has so far continued uninterrupted despite the Belarusian threat, Miller said yesterday.
Gazprom has insisted that European customers will not be affected by the shut-off as the company can reroute gas supplies through another pipeline crossing Ukraine.
About 80 percent of Russian gas exported to Europe normally goes through Ukraine, while the rest is carried via Belarusian pipelines.
Russia has cut gas supplies to both Ukraine and Belarus several times in recent years due to payment disputes, and many European consumers have suffered in winter temperatures.
Russia is Belarus' main ally and sponsor, but relations between the two former Soviet countries have been strained by financial arguments. Belarus has insisted that Russia should provide cheaper oil and gas, but Russia has refused.
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