Yesterday’s negotiations between Energoinvest, importer of gas in B&H, and the Russian state company Gazprom were stopped, and no agreement on a new contract was reached.
Energoinvest signed contract with the Russian gas supplier Gazprom Export LLC on supply of B&H with natural gas and this agreement is in force, however, this agreement is extended annually by annexes.
Energoinvest announced that Gazprom is insisting on regular payment and schedule of payment of the debt for the delivery of gas, and that they are especially insisting on payment of war debt and the fulfillment of other conditions from the original contract.
The chief negotiator of Energoinvest with Gazprom Mehmed Koldzo confirmed, the part for the war debt have not been paid since May. The BH-Gas is regularly charging 5 BAM per 1,000 m3, and the money is than deposited on a special account. All this is happening because of certain complications on the relation between the Ministry of Finance and the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mining and Industry.
Due to the fact that RS have not been paying their part of the war debt so far, the total debt to Gazprom on this basis is almost 2 million USD.
The Russians are insisting this part of the debt to be paid, but it will be difficult due to the fact that RS is now independently importing gas directly from Gazprom. Russians are also insisting on guarantees for regular payment, which will be very difficult to provide within only 15 days.
Negotiations on the extension of the contract were stopped yesterday, and they will be continued in 15 days.
(Source: klix.ba)