In 2008 prices for housing and utilities services not to go up by more than $5 in Belarus

In 2008 prices for housing and utilities services will not go up by more than $5 in Belarus, Belarusian Housing and Public Utilities Minister Vladimir Belokhvostov told BelTA. According to the official, the state bears the main burden of covering growing expenses arising from the Russian energy price hike. At the same time the $5 limit on the increase in prices for housing and utilities services can involve the loss of profits of the Belarusian utilities companies. As a result the Government has to increase subsidies granted to these economic entities. “Power engineering companies should also search for new sources of financing for the implementation of investment programmes,” said Vladimir Belokhvostov.