NOVO-OGARYOVO, December 3 (Itar-Tass) — Gazprom pays Belarus 2.5 billion US dollars for the remaining 50 percent of Beltransgaz shares, and now Gazprom owns 100 percent of Beltransgaz stocks, said head of the Russian gas corporation Alexei Miller at a working meeting with premier Vladimir Putin, replying to his proposal to speak about Belarus above all.
“We started now work on preparing synchronization of work between Beltransgaz and the united system of gas supplies to the Russian Federation under norms and standards of operation of technical servicing that are adopted in Gazprom,” Miller continued. “Small doubt, this will raise stability and reliability of gas deliveries both to Belarussian consumers and to European countries.”
Putin also displayed interest in the social question, ensuing from this deal. “I imagine an approximate level of wages at Beltrasngaz now,” he said. “Evidently, you should think about raising the level of wages, having in mind that it is now fully your enterprise”.
The premier believes that “to all appearances, you have to double the level of wages for Belarussian colleagues at Beltransgaz”.