Russia warns Belarus on electricity debt

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RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED June 28, 2011

Russia has given Belarus until Tuesday morning to pay off its electricity debt, threatening to cut off supplies if it does not, Russia's electricity export monopoly Inter RAO said on Monday.

"Unfortunately, as of 22:00 [Moscow time, 18:00 GMT] no payment was made," a company spokesman said.

The Belarusian Energy Ministry said it did not know whether the payment had been made.

Belarusian Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich said on Thursday his country would pay off its 1.2 billion ruble ($43 million) debt to Russia for April and May electricity supplies by June 28.

Inter RAO halved electricity supplies to Belarus on June 9 as a warning and then threatened to cut off exports on June 22 as Belarus's utility Belenergo continued to run up debts amid an economic crisis in the former Soviet republic.

Inter RAO said on June 21 it had delayed cutting off power supplies until June 27 after negotiations.

Belarus meets about 10 percent of its electricity needs through Inter RAO supplies.

Topics: East Europe, Belarus, Russia

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