June 18. /TASS/. Russia's gas giant Gazprom has received payments for gas supplies to Belarus in full, Gazprom Head Alexey Miller told reporters on Saturday.
According to Miller the issue of debt for gas supplied by Gazprom Transgaz Belarus to local clients is a matter of cooperation of Belarusian companies.
"Our Belarusian enterprise pays us in full for the delivery of our gas to Belarus. There are accounts receivable between two Belarusian enterprises - two economic entities. Gazprom receives full payment for gas supplies to Belarus," he said.
Talking about the settlement price of gas for Ukraine in the Q3, the Miller said that it is not ready yet. "We keep track of it, but it is too early, it is not the end of the month," he said.
Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said earlier that reduction of oil supplies to Belarus was due to underpayment.
"Our Belarusian friends, unfortunately, underpay for gas, which affects the budget, because Gazprom is a large taxpayer, Of course, we have to seek compensation," he said.
Earlier on Thursday, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum said that Russia’s oil supplies to Belarus may be slightly cut in the third quarter of this year.
"The current schedule implies a slight decrease (of oil supplies to Belarus - TASS) compared with initial plans," Novak said, adding that this is related to the capacity of the gas and oil transmission system.
In Minsk, such intentions later were called illegal, and Novak's statements "unfounded."
Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev said earlier that the debt of Belarus for Russia’s gas supplies exceeds $200 mln.
"There are arrears in payment to the Belarusian company (Gazprom Transgaz Belarus owned by Gazprom - TASS) from Belarus’ consumers. The backlog is rather serious, exceeding 200 (mln dollars)," he said.
In early May, Gazprom Transgaz Belarus filed a lawsuit to the International Arbitration Court at the BelCCI (Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) against the country’s gas providers over their debts on Russia’s gas supplies.
Last year the price of Russian gas for Belarus stood at $142.4 per 1,000 cubic meters. Meanwhile Minsk said there were reasons for reducing the price for gas in 2016. In January, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich and his Belarusian counterpart Vladimir Semashko held talks but failed to agree on a gas price discount.