Belarusian government working on pessimistic budget

The Belarusian government is working on a pessimistic budget for 2009 based on a price of $200 for 1000 cu meters of Russian gas, reports the news site “Заўтра тваёй краіны”.

The order to prepare the "pessimistic" version came after Uladzimir Mayoraw, director general of Belarus' gas pipeline operator Beltranshaz, returned from Moscow following talks with Gazprom.

The cabinet is expected to consider the pessimistic budget in early August.

Earlier, the government made budget estimates based on a price of $140 for 1000 cu meters. But Russian Amabassador Aleksandr Surikov indicated that the price might rise over $200 next year.