Gazprom spells out terms for Beltransgaz

The Belarusian gas transit network and performance benchmarks of state energy company Beltransgaz must meet Russian criteria, gas company Gazprom said. Gazprom announced in early December that it took control of Beltransgaz as part of a revised energy deal with Belarus. Alexei Miller, chief executive officer at Gazprom, met with officials from Minsk to discuss the new terms for Beltransgaz. Gazprom, in a statement, said it was "was planning to significantly increase the efficiency of the Beltransgaz performance." Achieving that, the company said, means corporate norms and standards should be in compliance with Gazprom's. Minsk blamed rising prices of natural gas from Russia for some of its economic woes. Gazprom under the terms of the deal would charge $164 per 1,000 cubic meters of natural gas starting in 2012. That's down from the $280 per 1,000 cubic meters paid this year and is less than half of what European consumers pay the natural gas company. The new phase of ties between Gazprom and Beltransgaz take effect Jan. 1.