11 July 2003 06:37
Russian Duma deputy skeptical about planned Gazprom reform
MOSCOW. July 11 (Interfax) - A proposed division of Russian natural gas monopoly Gazprom into production and
transport subsidiaries and plans to equalize transport prices will not give independent gas suppliers easier access to
pipelines, Valery Yazev, chairman of the State Duma gas subcommittee and president of the Russian Gas Society, said on
Friday.
Earlier, Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov promised that the government would formulate its conclusions on these
proposals by October.
Yazev argued that access to pipelines should be the prerogative of the state and not Gazprom. He suggested making use
of European experience of state regulation of gas transport.
Yet he hailed Kasyanov's promise as a reason for some certainty and a basis for discussion.
Speaking at a signing ceremony for a cooperation agreement between Interfax and the Gas Society, Yazev said
Gazprom's planned split would be a painful process for the company's shareholders, including the Russian state
and foreign companies, as it would give rise to property issues and affect Gazprom's capitalization.
But in any case, "I stand for transparent financial flows," Yazev said.
Kasyanov also said there was a need for a mechanism of regular information on gas production and transport
prices.
The head of the Gazprom Information and Analysis Department, Igor Plotnikov, said the company is ready to disclose
such information, but in fact such disclosures would often be illegal. [RU EUROPE EEU EMRG ELG ENR MRG PRO] as tl
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