The prices of natural gas in Belarus have been increased by 11.9% for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs from January 1.

January 3, Minsk /BelTA correspondent/. The prices for natural gas in Belarus have been increased by 11.9% for legal entities and individual entrepreneurs since January 1, 2011, reaching $275.87 per 1,000 cubic meters without VAT, up from $246.47 in dollar equivalent. This was reported to BelTA by the press service of the Ministry of Economy. The increase in gas prices is due to the rise in the purchase price of natural gas from the Russian Federation in 2011 and changes in general economic conditions. Electricity tariffs supplied by the state energy enterprise Belenergo have also been increased. For industrial and equivalent consumers, they will rise by 10%, and for non-industrial consumers (budgetary, other consumers), and for the production needs of agricultural consumers, they will increase by 15%. Tariffs for thermal energy supplied by the state energy enterprise Belenergo have also been increased by 15%. -0-