Energy Commission on gas industry development

The Federal Energy Commission has prepared remarks on the Economy Ministry's concept of the Russian natural gas industry's development. Commission's Deputy Chairman Oleg Zhilin said that the document came as a compromise for Gazprom's and the Economy Ministry's stridently opposed views. However, it is obvious that the position expressed in the document is sympathizing with the one of the Economy Ministry. The document advocates a clear differentiation of Gazprom's various activities (gas production, processing, transportation, storage and sales) as well as their maximum transparency.

Moreover, the Energy Commission supports the idea of creating a unified gas transportation company that will allow not only to reduce Gazprom's current expenses but also make gas transportation easier for other independent gas producers. Additionally, the Commission argues that Gazprom's balance sheet should be developed and approved by the government rather than by the company itself, the Vremya Novostey newspaper reported.