Finance Ministry may set gas export duty rate at 35%

The Finance Ministry of Russia is considering the possibility of setting the export duty rate for gas at 20-35 percent, First Deputy Finance Minister Sergey Shatalov reported today. A government bill, submitted to the State Duma for consideration, envisaged setting the export duty rate for gas at 20%. Shatalov pointed out that along with increasing the export duty rate, it was planned to decrease the rate of the tax on production of natural resources for the domestic market. These questions were discussed at yesterday's meeting, presided over by Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin. The meeting was attended to Gazprom Executive Board Chairman Alexey Miller. "We will reach a compromise with Gazprom on these issues," Shatalov declared, commenting on the results of the meeting.