PM to discuss development of gas market - 19 March, 2003

Today, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov is going to hold a meeting on the draft of the concept of developing the Russian gas market, the Economy Ministry reported to RBC. On February 15, the Prime Minister assigned the Economy Ministry, the Energy Ministry and a number of other federal authorities to prepare suggestions on this matter taking into account the goals set by the President in his speech on the 10th anniversary of Russia's gas giant Gazprom on February 14, 2003. It is worth mentioning that Vladimir Putin stated that the government would not support any plans of dividing Gazprom. According to him, the state will insist on optimizing the structure of the gas monopoly and reducing the company's expenditures. The Economy Ministry pointed out that it had already introduced its suggestions in this regard to the government.