Gazprom wants to stay intact after gas market reforms

While establishing the gas market, Gazprom, a Russian gas giant, and the unified gas supply system should be preserved "without breaking them up", Deputy CEO of Gazprom Alexander Ryazanov said at a meeting of the Federation Council Commission for natural monopolies held in Yamburg (the Yamal-Nenets autonomous area). The Deputy CEO pointed out that Gazprom favors reforms in the company. "Liberal economists suggest that the pipeline should be transferred to the state, while all gas and oil companies should be made independent and compete with each other", Ryazanov said. However, he added, Gazprom's stance is preserving the holding intact. According to the company's Deputy CEO, these days there is a "serious misbalance" in the fuel and energy consumption, in particular, gas accounts for 50 percent of it. Additionally, Ryazanov reported Gazprom would establish a gas transportation company and stressed it should be part of the gas holding.

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