Belarus president describes ‘under $90' as fair price for Russian natural gas

Minsk, February 21 - Neftegaz.RU. In the current conditions on the world market of energy resources Russian gas for Belarus should be priced at about $90 per 1,000m3. Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko made the statement as he met with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Vladimir Semashko on 21 February, BelTA has learned.

Aleksandr Lukashenko said: “As for natural gas, it costs less than $110 in Europe today. It was not our minister, who told me that, but a major Russian businessman. We've also talked about it with [Rosneft CEO] Sechin, he deals with gas as well. It is the price paid in Europe via commodity exchanges. It means gas should cost in Belarus something in the vicinity of $90. If we talk about the world price.”

“Yes, those are prices specified by long-term contracts or some other ones. But long-term contracts on gas are always tied to the oil price. Since prices for oil have dropped, it means prices for natural gas should do, too. This is why no one else pays $127 in today's world,” Aleksandr Lukashenko is convinced.

The head of state made it clear the fact should be taken into account. “You [Vladimir Semashko] know better than I do how these things are calculated,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

“This is why our stance on oil and deliveries of gas from Russia, our stance on prices is now absolutely clear. And we should work in this direction. It is up to you to handle it regardless of what ministers may come to you,” the Belarusian leader concluded.

BelTA reported earlier that the price for Russian gas Belarus will get in March-December 2020 has been set at $127 per 1,000m3 as the baseline scenario. First Deputy Prime Minister of Belarus Dmitry Krutoi mentioned it while speaking about results of negotiations between the presidents of Belarus and Russia in Sochi on 7 February. The official said: “The presidents came to terms with regard to Belarus in the end. They agreed that the terms in 2020 will be at least as good as in 2019.” In 2019 Belarus paid a fixed price of $127 per 1,000m3 at the border.

Asked to clarify whether $127 will be the price Belarus will pay for Russian gas in 2020, Dmitry Krutoi noted: “It is the baseline figure used during our negotiations today.”

In January-February 2020 Belarus received Russian natural gas at the last year's price as well.