(((Putin is showing the world how it's done – after Washington has lost the global war for oil. If Russia threatened Belarus with T-64 Soviet tank columns, they'd clench their teeth in defiance, but when it comes to making Belarus into a wholly-owned Russian energy colony, they will knuckle. They have no choice. They've got no pals and no realistic ways to keep from economically crashing and freezing. Welcome to petrocracy.)))
RUSSIA THREATENS TO QUADRUPLE GAS PRICE FOR BELARUS IN 2007...
Russian Ambassador to Belarus Aleksandr Surikov told journalists in
Minsk on November 3 that Russia may rise its gas price for Belarus fourfold in 2007 unless it obtains some degree of control of
Beltranshaz, Belarus's gas-pipeline operator, Russian and international news agencies reported. "Russia has reached a decision on mutually beneficial cooperation between countries, including CIS
countries, and has designated the price of gas for its partners. This is $200 [for 1,000 cubic meters] for Belarus, $217 for Lithuania, and a little more for Western Europe due to transit," Surikov said. "I'm not ruling out that the price for Belarus will be not $200 but $140, taking customs duties into consideration," he added. Surikov hinted that the gas price for Belarus could be reduced if Minsk decided to sell a 50 percent stake in Beltranshaz to Gazprom. The Netherlands'
ABN AMRO bank is reportedly to conclude appraising Beltransgaz's assets later this month. Belarus currently pays $47 per 1,000 cubic meters of Russian gas. JM
(((Pipelines talk.)))
...AND WANTS SHARE IN DUTIES FROM REFINED OIL EXPORTS. Ambassador
Surikov also told journalists in Minsk on November 3 that Russia may cut oil supplies to Belarus if the two sides fail to agree to unify duties on oil products refined at Belarusian refineries from Russian crude oil, Russian and international news agencies reported. Surikov said Russia wants Belarus to raise the duties for refined oil exports to the Russian level of $180 per ton from the current $57. Moscow also wants Belarus to transfer up to 85 percent of the amount raised from the new oil products duties to the Russian state budget. Belarus contracted 19.75 million tons of Russian crude oil for 2006 and wants to receive 21.5 million tons in 2007. JM
