A meeting of deputy ministers and other senior officials in Moscow this week discussed establishing new mechanisms, possibly a clearing system, for settling accounts between suppliers and consumers, a ministry statement said.
The officials also discussed removing legal and other obstacles to trade in oil- and gas-industry output and equipment between CIS states.
The ministry gave no further details of the proposals, which have been discussed several times before to no avail.
Russian fuel producers are owed about 30 trillion rubles ($15 billion) by consumers -- 60 percent of total nonpayments in the Russian economy. The debt for fuel supplies to other former Soviet republics in 1993 stands at about 2 trillion rubles, with Ukraine's share 1.3 trillion rubles.
Russian officials say the debt, along with a punitive tax regime, has brought the industry to its knees, forcing many producers to shut in output and use investment funds to meet day-to-day operating expenses.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.