Gazprom is still seeking an increase in domestic gas prices despite a recent refusal by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to accept such a move, Alexei Melnikov, head of Gazprom's transportation and gas storage department, said Friday.
At a conference in Moscow, Melnikov described a price increase as "necessary for the market."
Melnikov later said that Gazprom is preparing a document supporting the company's call for a price increase, the Prime news agency reported.
In mid-March, Gazprom proposed raising domestic gas tariffs for its industrial customers by 26.3% starting October 1, to help compensate for the company's increased tax burden. The proposal came on top of the initial plan for a 15% increase in domestic gas tariffs from July 1.
Natural gas MET rates for Gazprom are to increase to Rb509/1,000 cu meter ($16.95/1,000 cu meters) in 2012 from Rb237/1,000 cu meters in 2011, and further to Rb582/1,000 cu meter in 2013 and Rb622/1,000 cu meter in 2014, in line with changes to the country's tax code approved in November.
But Putin has called on Gazprom to improve its operational efficiency, and he has refused to allow an increase in domestic gas prices above earlier agreed levels.
