Belarussian first deputy prime minister said on Saturday Belarus and Russian gas giant Gazprom have reached an agreement to sell gas to Belarus at US$100 per 1,000 cubic meters from Jan. 1, 2007, but Gazprom did not confirm the statement.

According to the Prime Minister Vladimir Semashko who told a briefing in Minsk on Saturday evening, Belarus and Gazprom have also agreed on the charge for Russian gas transit through Belarus to Europe, raising it from US$0.75 to 1.65 per 1,000 cubic meters for every 100 km, the Interfax news agency reported.

"Another essential point that has been agreed is payment for shares in (Belarussian gas transport company) Beltransgaz in cash -- immediately or in installments for no more than a year, but with interest," Semashko said.

Gazprom would acquire a 50 percent stake in Beltransgaz and pay US$2.5 billion for it on the basis of the company's highest valuation of US$5 billion, which has been recognized by Gazprom, Semashko said.

But the prices for gas imports into Belarus in 2008-2010 have not been agreed upon yet, Semashko said.

However, Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov denied the agreement.

"We consider it premature to comment on intermediary results (of talks) and we point out that we are holding negotiations on a five-year contract," Kupriyanov said.

"The figures voiced by Mr. Semashko at the news conference are his point of view and the position of the Belarussian side at the negotiations but by no means any real agreements with Gazprom," he said.

Belarus is buying gas from Russia at US$46.7 per 1,000 cubic meters. The current contract expires on Dec. 31.

Gazprom is demanding Belarus pay US$105 per 1,000 cubic meters next year, with US$75 in cash and US$30 in shares in Beltransgaz.

The company announced on Friday that it is not going to backtrack on the terms made earlier to Belarus for gas supplies.

"The offer we have made is very comfortable. It is the best in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), and we don't quite understand why we should backtrack on it. There are no reasons to further improve this offer, either," Gazprom spokesman Sergei Kupriyanov said on Vesti TV program.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2006)