On December 14, Minsk /BELTA correspondent/. In Belarus, prices for liquefied gas at gas filling stations will be increased from December 17, 2011. This was reported to a BELTA correspondent by the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Economy. These decisions were made by Resolutions of the Ministry of Economy No. 194 and No. 195 of December 8, 2011. From December 17, liquefied gas at gas filling stations will cost from Br3450 to Br3750 per 1 litre. Within these limits, established by the Resolution of the Ministry of Economy, sellers will determine the retail price themselves depending on market conditions. Prices of producer organisations will also increase. The reason for the price increase is the rise in the cost of oil, the ministry explained. Primarily, oil is imported into Belarus, and after the devaluation of the Belarusian ruble, it became more expensive, like all imports. Since liquefied gas is a product of oil refining, under the current conditions, its sale on the domestic market has become unprofitable. The currently effective selling prices for liquefied gases sold on the domestic market do not allow for the efficient operation of producer organisations. Furthermore, repeated changes in retail prices for petroleum products have reduced the ratio between retail prices for motor gasoline and liquefied gases used for refuelling vehicles. Therefore, the decision to increase prices has been made with the aim of improving the efficiency of the financial and economic activities of oil refining organisations in the sale of liquefied gases on the domestic market. This will also eliminate the existing disparity in prices for petroleum products for refuelling vehicles. Thus, the producer organisations' prices for liquefied gases for motor transport will increase by 21.8%. The maximum retail prices for liquefied gas for refuelling vehicles at gas filling stations will also increase: the minimum price will rise by 20.7% from Br2860 to Br3450 per 1 litre, and the maximum price by 21.8% from Br3080 to Br3750 per 1 litre. Resolutions of the Ministry of Economy No. 194 and No. 195 will come into force on December 17, 2011, after their official publication on December 16. -0-

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