ST. PETERSBURG, June 13 (RIA Novosti) - Gazprom (RTS: GAZP) plans to finalize a new price for gas supplied to Belarus before the end of summer, a senior executive for Russia's natural gas monopolist said Tuesday.
Deputy board chairman Alexander Ryazanov said the energy giant had raised the price from the current $46.68 to $200 per 1,000 cubic meters in its latest draft agreements sent to Belarus for consideration, a move expected to tear a hole of around $2 billion in the Belarusian budget.
Ryazanov told journalists that Gazprom would likely to face tough talks with Belarusian officials, but added that a compromise was possible.
"It will not be easy to reach an agreement. For some reason they consider that the current price is actually a market price," he said. "But we are seeking a compromise. The Belarusian side could offer us some assets, for example [Belarusian pipeline company] Beltransgaz or Mozyr oil refinery."
Gazprom is seeking a stake in state pipeline company Beltransgaz, which owns pipelines leading to Europe - Gazprom's main customer. Gazprom supplies roughly a quarter of European gas needs.
Ryazanov said Belarus was ready to discuss with Gazprom a stake in Belarusian assets in exchange for preferential prices. He said any agreement on a cost-assessment mechanism should involve reliable international companies.
"We should ask some international companies from [world's] top five or top ten, whom both Gazprom and Beltransgaz trust," he said.
