MINSK, 20 October (BelTA) – It is necessary to set things straight as far as pricing procedures in the Belarusian energy industry are concerned. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made the relevant statement during the national seminar on ways to improve and develop the housing and utilities industry on 20 October, BelTA has learned.
Alexander Lukashenko reminded that the State Control Committee had found out that utilities providers have reserves for reducing prices for housing and utility services. Alexander Lukashenko said he believes that energy companies have an even greater impact on prices and may have sufficient reserves of their own. “Did you find out how their prices are formed? How much profit do they aim for? Find out what salaries they are paid, how they can afford their posh sanatoriums and so on,” said the head of state. “Nobody can stay fat and happy at the expense of the people! If such facts are revealed before you revise the rates once again, the minister will have to start looking for another job. He was given this office in order to address these issues, clarify cost and pricing practices, and remove all the excessive fat. Nothing like that has been done for now.”
Alexander Lukashenko also noted that direct contracts on heating service and hot water supply had not been signed between energy companies and consumers of these services, primarily Belarusian households. The Energy Ministry insists that energy suppliers and district housing and utility service providers should sign the contracts because the ministry is unwilling to work with the population because performance figures may take a plunge. “I can see a conflict of the two ministries because they are focused on their own agendas only. [Prime Minister of Belarus Andrei] Kobyakov and [Chairman of the State Control Committee of Belarus Leonid] Anfimov must resolve the problem immediately, unambiguously and without the departmental approach,” demanded the Belarusian leader.
