MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti economic commentator...
its domestic losses by hiking export prices.Gazprom would be glad to raise prices, because it sells more than half of its output in Russia and claims to be losing huge sums because of this. Gazprom mangers say the company lost as much as 9 billion rubles ($378.95 million) because of this in 2006 and 11 billion rubles ($463.16 million) last year.
However, the monopoly does not report its spending on production and transportation.
Russian gas producers are emulating the policy of oil companies. Gasoline prices in Russia, one of the largest oil producers and exporters, are among the highest in the world. A liter of gasoline in Russia costs almost as much as in the United States, which is the largest oil importer.
Russian fuel and energy companies and their lobbies do not think this situation can easily be changed, because producers will export their output as long as global prices remain high. They argue that attempts to limit exports will only increase
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