Russia & Belarus avert energy crisis

Russia and Belarus have narrowly averted another energy crisis after reaching a last-minute agreement to cancel threatened cuts in Russian gas shipments that had rattled European nerves.

Gazprom backed down from a threat to slash gas supplies by almost half to Belarus, a key energy transit state to western Europe, after Belarus began repayment of nearly €333m in overdue debt for past supplies.
Belarusian gas pipeline operator Beltransgaz said it had paid €138m to Gazprom of the overdue debt.

The Russian gas giant said in a statement it expected full repayment of the debt within one week, and prompt payment of 100% of current gas bills.

A Gazprom official said a cut-off was still possible if the debt was not repaid in full by next week, though the timing and amount would have to be determined then.

RTE