MINSK (Sputnik) — Belarus will settle its $281 million debt for Russian gas by October 20, Belarusian Energy Minister Vladimir Potupchik said Tuesday.
"As part of this decision, Belarus will have to pay for the accumulated sum by October 20. I would like to point out, not for debts, but for Belarus' underpayment for gas during 2016," Potupchik told reporters.
Russia and Belarus have reached a deal on gas prices after almost a year of negotiations.
"The amount underpaid is $281 million taking into account that payments for September will be made within the framework of the decisions in the signed protocol," the minister added.
In July, Russia said Belarus owed it $270 million for gas, with Minsk refusing to recognize the debt. Belarus had initially bargained for $73 per 1,000 cubic meters instead of $132, which it considered unfair.
Paying off the gas debt was one of the top conditions for restoring Russia's oil supplies to Belarus, along with Belarus lowering the oil transit tariffs.
