Alexander Surikov said the price scheme for Belarus was based on that used for neighboring Poland.
"Under a contract signed in December 2006 on gas supplies to Belarus until 2011, the gas price for Belarus is 80% of the price of natural gas for Poland minus customs duties, gas transit across Poland, and plus gas transit across Russia and Belarus. The price for Poland is $320 per 1,000 cu m this year and will exceed $400 next year," Surikov said.
In December 2006, Gazprom and Beltransgaz signed a contract on gas supplies and transit for 2007-2011. The document envisioned a price of $100 per 1,000 cubic meters for 2007 and a pricing formula for 2008.
According to the formula, Russia was supposed to sell gas to Belarus at $119 per 1,000 cubic meters in the first quarter of 2008, but raise the rate to $128 in the second quarter of this year.
The Russian ambassador also said trade between Russia and Belarus was expected to reach a record $34-37 billion in 2008, compared to $26 billion in 2007.
