Gas transportation rates to be raised

Gas transportation tariffs for independent gas producers will be increased by 20 percent to 16.56 rubles ($0.54) for every 100 kilometers of 1,000 cubic meters of gas pumped in Russia effective August 1, 2003, Federal Energy Commission Deputy Chairman Oleg Zhilin declared at an oil and gas congress today. The current tariff for pumping 1,000 cubic meters of gas is 13.8 rubles ($0.45) for every 100 kilometers.