Russian Government wants to oblige gas producers to take part in trading sessions

The Kommersant has got to know details of the plan to start gas trading, which should start on October 24th. One of the key challenges for the agencies has become trading volumes: Gazprom may be obliged to send at least 5% of its supplies to the domestic market to the exchange, the same amount is required from independent producers, but the regulators have no formal tools to ensure the supply.

As the Kommersant has got to know, FAS, the Ministry of Energy and the Central Bank have agreed on the plan of actions for the start of gas trading. This work, stalled for more than two years, accelerated sharply after Vladimir Putin’s orders on the results of the June meeting of the Commission on the Fuel and Energy Sector. According to the plan, the trading on the St. Petersburg Commodity Exchange should start on October 24th. As several sources, familiar with the situation, told the Kommersant, month trading on two balance sheet points (hubs) - compressor stations Nadym and Vyngapurovskaya - will be started first. To do this, it is necessary to change the balance of gas to include the volumes of exchange sales before October 1st.