The Deputy Chairman of Gazprom Valery Golubev was elected Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Belarusian state gas transmission company Beltransgaz “at took place in Minsk, annual general meeting of shareholders it, RIA Novosti reported. In the Supervisory Board of Beltransgaz has already come in four representatives of Gazprom and Belarus, including Deputy Prime Minister, who until now headed the Supervisory Board and the Minister of Energy of Belarus. Representatives of Gazprom already occupy half the seats of the senior management of the Belarusian gas company, as the Russian gas giant recently completed its purchase of 50% of her shares. The contract of sale was signed in 2007, with total assets of Beltransgaz was evaluated by ABN Amro of 5 billion dollars. Under the terms of the agreement Gazprom had to acquire up to May this year, half of the shares of Beltransgaz for 2.5 billion dollars to pay for a period of 4 equal parts.
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Poland intends, if necessary through the court to ask the giant Gazprom total 410 million dollars as part of charges for gas transmission to past periods. This Polish newspaper reported Dziennik Gazeta Prawna, citing unofficial sources of information in Polish. According to the paper 350 million dollars of this amount are fees for transit of Russian gas through the country during 2006/09, since the Polish side is now estimated that the fees paid for the period were low. For the remaining 60 million claim for the energy concern PGNiG requested but undelivered gas in Poland last year by the current company for a short time firm RosUkrEnergo, as its liquidation after Gazprom took over all of its obligations. It is from PGNiG claim that they are prepared to file suit against Gazprom in order to get those 60 million dollars.
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Ukraine has paid to Russia for gas supplies in November after the government is converting their dollars in special drawing rights (SDRs) of IMF, it is clear from the release of Naftogaz Ukraine. Naftogaz paid in full its obligations to Russia, has told the Bloomberg spokesman for the Kiev-based company. But he did not specify the exact amount of the transferred amount. Gazprom spokesman confirmed the information, also without revealing the value of the transfer. On December 2, Finance Minister of Ukraine said that the government is converting SDR two weeks earlier and in time will pay 770 million for supplies of blue fuel. On November 12 he said his country wants to convert 800 million SDRs at 1.28 billion dollars. Ukraine relies on Russia for around 70% of its energy needs and ensure the transit of about 80% of the quantities exported Russian gas to Europe. Under the agreement with Gazprom to Naftogaz to pay for supplies to Ukraine at 7th day of the month following delivery. The country already uses SDR once payment with Russia.
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France is now officially part of the gas pipeline project South Stream. This became clear after French energy giant Electricite de France (EDF) signed a contract with Russian gas monopoly Gazprom to join consortium building the gas pipeline South Stream. News was delivered personally by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is visiting in France. We recall that speculation on the participation of France to be strengthened through direct September, and then wrote to the Russian press. At last unofficial information France will take 10% of the company managing the project. At this stage, Gazprom and Italy’s Eni, divided in equal participation in it. The pipeline aims to diversify supply routes of Russian gas to European Union, bypassing Ukraine. Power of the pipeline system will be 63 billion cubic meters. South Stream project envisages the construction of underwater pipe that will link the Bulgarian Black Sea with the Russian coasts. Pipeline from Bulgaria will be divided into two sections. The first would have notified the south of Greece and Italy, and others will continue to the northwest to Central Europe.
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