Gazprom says will compensate for possible gas tapping by Belarus

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) – Gazprom will do everything to compensate for the possible tapping of Europe-bound gas by Belarus, the head of the Russian energy giant’s export arm said Wednesday.

Talks between Belarus and Gazprom – the sole gas supplier to the ex-Soviet state – finished Tuesday with no agreement on a gas price for next year, bringing a flashback to a pricing row with Ukraine in late 2005 – early 2006 when Russia briefly cut off supplies, affecting some consumers in Europe.

“Not everything depends on us [in the gas dispute] with Belarus this year, nor did it last year with Ukraine, but we will spare no effort to make up for the possible unsanctioned tapping of gas [in transit],” Alexander Medvedev said.

But Medvedev said compensating European consumers in full was impossible for a prolonged period given Russia’s growing domestic gas demand.

RIA Novosti