How much is gas?

How much is gas?

The stated goal of increasing the president by 2010, GDP doubled faces many challenges. One of them is too high energy of Russian industry. A gas market, which accounts for half the country's energy mix is far from perfect

In the hope of a dream
In late May the government approved the draft Energy Strategy of Russia up to 2020-year. It removed the most fundamental questions concerning the regulation of tariffs for energy and reform of natural monopolies. The strategy has become simply a plan for extraction of energy production that must grow, and fuel and energy complex will be the main driving force of growth and development of the remaining sectors of the economy.

Reducing the number of issues directly related to the President Federal Assembly of Russia, previous discussion of energy strategy. In the first place - with the goal to double GDP in next 10 years. The point is that energy consumption per unit of Russia's economy in two to three times higher than in developed countries. With such energy for the growth of the economy, the president claimed, produced the resources are simply not enough. The goal is that by 2020 energy consumption should be reduced by half, but even so, energy consumption will increase by 40%.

Under the strategy, by 2020 the level of gas production is scheduled to increase to 680-730 billion cubic meters. meters, oil output by 2010 will reach the level of 450 million tons per year, and by 2020 will increase to 520 million tons, electricity production should grow by 30-50%.

It should be pointed out that the major oil fields in the Urals, the Volga region and Western Siberia has already reached the later stages of development from falling prey. Potential new fields below, and the cost of production is high enough. So the question of cost effectiveness in the low oil prices remains an open question. Gas deposits are depleted by one third and are in the process of attrition - that is, gas production drops. In doing so, the pace of new stock razvedyvaniya behind the current rate of extraction.

In the energy balance of Russia the share of gas occupies about 50%, and, according to the draft energy strategy, the structure of the balance should not undergo significant changes. About 40% of the gas consumes energy, the third industry, the remaining third are in housing and communal services and population. Gas prices, like electricity, are regulated and remain substantially lower tariffs in foreign markets (currently the intrinsic value of just over $ 23). For comparison, in 2000 for industrial consumers of gas price in Russia stood at $ 17, Europe - $ 130, in the United States - $ 70 in Japan - $ 200 per thousand cubic meters. It is due to low domestic fares, many domestic enterprises are competitive in foreign markets. In doing so, they are deprived of strong incentives to save energy and are not interested in modernizing and reorienting its production.

This tube
Up to 90% of Russian market of gas production is the «Gazprom», the remaining 10-12% - are independent producers, mainly the oil companies that have no easy access to transport and sell gas. The question of admission to the pipe, which has a monopoly on the «Gazprom», with the apparent simplicity is extremely complex and controversial. The company is ready to grant access to independent producers, but only if they assume part of the supply to the domestic market. However, at current rates the profitability of gas supplies to the domestic market is low and independent producers are interested mostly in external markets. It turns out that only the «Gazprom» can not afford to date to preserve the internal rate of export earnings.

With the current domestic price ($ 23 per thousand cubic meters) of investment is not justified, and even with free access to the pipe independent producers to talk about increasing their market share has not yet been accounted for. In this situation, may be necessary to raise the price of gas. Increased need to compensate for individual categories of the population, but rising prices should force the industry to rationalize the consumption of gas. The need for liberalization and the creation of real market recognizes himself «Gazprom». Competitive markets will force Russian industry to invest in energy saving technology, and independent producers will be able to create competition, which in turn should reduce prices. However, no concrete decisions on ways to reduce energy intensity and the reorganization of the gas market is not yet in sight. Discussion of reforming the gas sector the government has postponed indefinitely. The issue of restructuring and section «Gazprom» has not, but it is only to determine the number of gas companies or subsidiaries to provide transportation as a separate company.

No major action in relation to the corporation, which forms 20% of tax revenues to the budget before the elections should not be expected. While the Government is limited to a decision on approving the plan for division of the fall of the financial flows of «Gazprom». The goal is to allocate the costs of production and transportation, as well as to clarify the financial situation of the non-core assets. This may help to determine the real cost of domestic gas.