MINSK, February 19 (Itar-Tass) —— The Belarusian government believes the decision to sell Beltransgaz to Russia is absolutely correct.
"If we had not signed the agreement in the package, then we would have the price of gas now of over 300 dollars per one thousand cubic meters. It has been a disaster, a collapse even worse than what we had last year," Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko told reporters.
According to him, "it was absolutely the right action."
Semashko stressed "we should understand that the gas transportation system remains, the taxpayer remains."
"We do not lose anything here, it is beneficial to us and to them /Russia/," he said.
In November of 2011, Belarus and Russia signed a package of intergovernmental agreements on the basis of price formation for natural gas supplies to Belarus and its transportation through pipelines located in the territory of the republic, and on conditions of sale of shares and on future activities of Beltransgaz.
In particular, Gazprom and the State Property Committee of Belarus in the package of agreements signed an agreement of purchase and sale of the remaining 50 percent stake in Beltransgaz. Thus, the Russian company acquired 100 percent stake in Beltransgaz.
In accordance with the contract, the gas price for Belarus in 2012 will make 165.6 dollars per a thousand cubic metres.