Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller, on the photo, and Belarussian Deputy PM Vladimir Semashko agreed to make out “a list of enterprises of Belarus that are of interest to Gazprom in view of the increase in gas prices.”
Photo: Dmitry Azarov
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ABN Amro to Evaluate Belarus’ Assets for Gazprom
After four years of abortive attempts, Belarus and Gazprom have picked out an appraiser for the assets of Belarus that could be of interest to Gazprom. It is ABN Amro, one of the biggest creditors of Gazprom. If the appraisal satisfies both parties, Belarus may hope to put off for a few years the increase in gas prices from $47 to $200. Otherwise, a gas war between Russia and Belarus is bound to escalate.
On Friday, Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller met Belarus’ Deputy PM Vladimir Semashko and Beltransgaz GD Dmitry Kazakov. Gazprom forwarded the draft contract far back in late April with the base price of $200 per ths cu meters (vs. $46.68 in 2005) for 2007. But the meetings have been rather formal until recently. “The prices will be market all the same, but we are ready to offset part of the gas cost by acquiring assets at the market prices,” said Alexander Ryazanov, deputy chairman at Gazprom management committee.
The talks gained momentum June 23, when Minsk shifted to commercial negotiations with Gazprom. Miller and Semashko agreed to make out “a list of enterprises of Belarus that are of interest to Gazprom in view of the increase in gas prices.”
A working group will agree on the list of assets in August, Gazprom briefer Sergey Kupriyanov specified. Gazprom will attempt to get control over the assets worth $10 billion, according to the experts.
“We are interested in the gas mains of Beltransgaz, Beltopgaz distribution networks, Mozyrsky refinery, where we have 42 percent via Slavneft. We are offered chemical projects and stakes in the underground storage facilities of gas,” Ryazanov said a few days ago.
Another breakthrough at the talks of Gazprom and Belarus was the choice of an independent appraiser for the assets eyed by the gas monopoly of Russia. It is Gazprom’s big creditor ABN Amro. In 2005, for instance, ABN Amro lended $1.1 billion to Gazprom to refund the loans of 2003 to 2004. In 2004, it was eager to evaluate Rosneft in time of its frustrated merger into Gazprom.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of June 26, 2006
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