Gazprom Official on Gas Prices in Russia

By 2013 practically all gas in Russia will be sold at free market prices, except gas supplies to the population, Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Ryazanov declared at an international gas forum held in Moscow today. According to him, by 2013 gas prices in Russia will be from $50 to $55 for every 1,000 cubic meters. He added that this would be the maximum possible price in Russia.

The official also said that this year Russia might import gas from Kazakhstan at free market prices. On the whole, some 60-70bn cubic meters of gas can by imported annually from foreign gas suppliers. Moreover, by 2010 Turkmen and Uzbek gas supplies are to start. In particular, an agreement with Turkmenistan has been signed on gas supplies totaling 70bn cubic meters effective 2007; Uzbek gas imports are to be 10bn cubic meters per year. This year Kazakhstan is expected to export 5bn cubic meters to Russia and next year some 7.5bn cubic meters of gas.

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