BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

22/10/2007

Russian Preimier Will Consider Another Gas Pipeline Via Belarus

Russian Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov told journalists in Minsk on October 19 that Russia will consider the possibility of building a second line of the Yamal-Europe gas pipeline running across Belarus, Belapan reported. Zubkov was in Minsk to take part in a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Syarhey Sidorski, within the framework of the Belarusian-Russian Union State. Sidorski noted that during the construction of the first line of the Yamal-Europe pipeline, pump stations and other necessary facilities were built for two pipelines. According to Sidorski, the second pipeline would cost between $2.5 billion and $3 billion. Speaking to a group of Russian journalists in Minsk earlier this month, Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka suggested that Russia should abandon the idea of building a gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea and instead double the capacity of the Yamal-Europe pipeline by building a second, parallel pipeline. To prompt a positive response from Moscow, Lukashenka offered free gas transit through Belarus for the following five years. The existing Yamal-Europe pipeline has an annual capacity of 33 billion cubic meters of gas. Gazprom sends 20 percent of its gas deliveries to Europe via Belarus. JM

Source:

http://www.rferl.org/newsline/2007/10/3-cee/cee-221007.asp