Gazprom might loose gas export monopoly
The Russian Federal Counter-Monopoly Service (FAS) is preparing amendments to the federal Law on Gas Exports, according to which energy major Gazprom will loose its monopoly on gas exports.
Currently, Gazprom is the only company allowed to export gas from Russia. The company is also the sole owner of the Russian pipeline grid. Other producers have long fought for access to the pipelines. According to Vedomosti, the amendments prepared by the Counter-Monopoly Service is likely to give other gas producing companies access to the gas pipeline system, thus also enabling them to export gas. Currently, the socalled independent gas producers all sell their gas to Gazprom. Gazprom today sells about 25 percent of its gas production to countries in the so-called far abroad. Former Soviet countries in the near abroad account for about 15 percent of the exports. Sixty percent of the gas is sold on the domestic market. Gazprom now exports its gas to European importers for up to 8700 RUB per 1000 cubic meter, Vedomosti reports. The price for domestic consumers is strongly subsidised and total about 1600 RUB per 1000 cubic meter.
