15 June 2004 16:33
Russia`s Gazprom to increase gas prices for Baltic states
Moscow, 15 June: Gazprom is planning to increase gas prices for the Baltic countries. Deputy chairman of the
company's board of directors Aleksandr Ryazanov told journalists today that this was connected with the admission
of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to the European Union. He cited the figure of 120 dollars for 1000 cu.m., which is the
price neighbouring Poland is paying for gas, as the upper limit. He said that currently the price the three republic are
paying is 80-85 dollars.
Ryazanov said that "because one of the power units of the Ignalina nuclear power plant will be closed on 1
January 2005, the consumption of electric energy and, consequently, gas will increase considerably in Lithuania".
"There are estimates that by 2010 the consumption of gas in the country will reach 5bn-5.5bn cu.m., and we are
ready to satisfy the demand in full," he said.
On the whole, Ryazanov described the Baltic gas market as stable and said: "We are very interested in it."
At the same time he said: " We must not increase prices too much because then Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia could
switch to alternative fuel, such as fuel oil for example."
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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