The government could grant Gazprom a 15 percent price increase next year, more than any regulated company would receive, Vedomosti reported Wednesday, citing a deputy minister.
The newspaper cited Deputy Economic Development Minister Stanislav Voskresensky as saying that under preliminary proposals, domestic gas consumers would pay 15 percent more next year, while rail and utility customers would see increases in line with inflation.
Voskresensky was quoted as saying the proposals should ensure that investment levels can be maintained next year.
Industry sources say Gazprom may struggle to balance investment in gas production and infrastructure in the coming years, and shortfalls in upstream investment may create new opportunities for independent producers to sell gas into the Gazprom system.
