22 December 2003 17:40
Creation of "civilized" electricity market priority for economy - Russian PM
Moscow, 22 December: To form a civilized electricity market is a priority task for the Russian economy, Russian Prime
Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said today addressing a special ceremony in the Rossiya concert hall dedicated to the day of
energy industry worker. He noted that the market should provide for "non-discriminatory equal cooperation of all
players with each other and with the state".
Kasyanov also pointed out that "the chief task before all enterprises of the industry is to reduce electricity
tariffs by cutting production costs".
The chairman of the Russian government also noted that the results of the year in the electricity industry were vital
for the whole Russian economy. He said that this year's adoption of Russia's energy strategy until 2020 had
played a vital role for the industry, as had the endorsement of a package of laws on reforming the electricity
industry.
"These decisions are making it possible to determine the ways to develop the energy sector as a whole, and the
electricity industry specifically," Kasyanov noted.
He said that from 1 November [2003], an open electricity market had started to operate in Russia for the first time.
"Despite the fact that its volumes are not yet large, the very fact that it has emerged allows us to look hopefully
to the future," the Russian prime minister noted.
[ITAR-TASS news agency] |
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