Bill on state oil and oil product exports monopoly to be discussed

Head of the Federation Council committee for natural monopolies Mikhail Odintsov reported to journalists today that the Federation Council commission for natural monopolies was going to meet to discuss the federal bill on state oil and oil product exports monopoly. According to Odintsov, on the one hand, this bill would enable the government to increase tax revenues of the budget; however, on the other hand, it would not contribute to the liberalization of the oil market. The commission will also discuss the bill on oil and gas transportation through main pipelines.

Additionally, the participants of the meeting are scheduled to discuss amendments to the federal law on state regulation of tariffs on electrical and heat energy. According to Odintsov, the packet of bills on reforming the electrical energy industry would be considerably improved by the second reading, but it will not be principally changed. The official pointed out that the Federation Council had been actively participating in the work on these bills. For example, the upper house has prepared about 1,000 amendments for the second reading.