Gazprom to update gas system in Belarus

Russian energy company Gazprom announced plans to upgrade gas transmission facilities and target the natural gas vehicle sector in Belarus. Alexei Miller, the top executive at Gazprom, led a delegation to Belarus to discuss development of the country's gas transmission facilities and the expansion of natural gas as a source of fuel in the former Soviet republic. "As a strategic investor, Gazprom targets a widespread and exhaustive development of the Belarusian gas transmission system," Miller said in a statement. Gazprom took control of Beltransgaz as part of a revised energy deal with Belarus last year for $2.5 billion. The company said it was paying "particular attention" to the gas transmission system and an action plan on development was expected within the next two months. A reliable gas transmission system in Belarus is a focal point of the integration of Beltransgaz into Gazprom, the Russian company said. "The parties will also analyze the options for an upgrade of the operating gas transmission facilities and construction of new ones, review different gas supply and demand scenarios in Belarus (and) clarify anticipated volumes of gas transit to European countries," Gazprom said.