Pipeline gas exports by independent producers not under debate. - Alexander Novak, Russian energy minister

The issue of granting access to Russian pipeline gas exports to independent producers is not under debate now, the country’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak said Tuesday.

"There is one [gas] exporter according to the current legislation. Export sales [by independent gas producers — TASS] are not under debate now. Particularly, the issue of granting access to pipeline gas exports to someone other than Gazprom is not under consideration," Novak said.

Currently, Gazprom is the only Russian gas producer, which has access to pipeline gas exports.

Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said earlier there are no plans to grant access to pipeline gas exports to independent producers yet though gas producing companies want to export gas, just as there are no plans to unbundle the transport component of gas exports.

Novatek and Rosneft have applied to the government asking for an access to export pipeline gas to Europe. This came after the companies succeeded in receiving access to export LNG from their projects.
[tass.ru]
26/4/16