Call for independent audit puts merger talks on hold....
Russia?s gas giant Gazprom and Belarus? state gas pipeline monopoly Beltransgaz plan to sign an agreement to conduct an independent evaluation of Beltransgaz, Russia?s Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov told reporters Tuesday.
Russia insists on an independent audit of Beltransgaz, because there are doubts as to the company?s assets and capital structures, he said.
On January 29, Belarusian First Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko said that Russia and Belarus had reached a compromise to create a joint venture between Gazprom and Beltransgaz.
According to Semashko, Gazprom and Beltransgaz would have equal 50% stakes in the future joint venture.
Unfortunately, the creation of the joint venture, has been delayed as Gazprom demanded a controlling stake in the company and said it was only prepared to pay its book value.
This position, flatly rejected by Belarus during the past year, led to Gazprom cutting its gas supplies to Belarus from January 1 this year.
