OREANDA-NEWS  On 03 June Federal Antimonopoly Service published information concerning "Gazprom" OJSC.

Currently the group of "Gazprom" companies produces around 80% of Russian gas. Along with gas production and distribution, the company is involved in gas transportation through pipeline networks.

Apart from "Gazprom" OJSC, ther are other gas-producing companies in the Russian Federation, including producers of associated petrol gas. After processing this type of gas can also be supplied together with natural gas.

In the period of gas deficit, many companies are facing the problem of obtaining the so-called "permission for gas use": possibility to buy Russian gas the prices below the world prices. The products of "Gazprom" OJSC were not sufficient, and some consumers signed direct contracts with independent gas suppliers - producing companies or traders that act as agents on the market.

However, it is only possible to transport network gas from suppliers to consumers thought the gas transportation networks of "Gazprom" OJSC. So "Gazprom" OJSC is the only organisation that can provide transportation services to its competitors on the market of network gas.

According to the information obtained by FAS Russia, recently independent suppliers have experienced new problems trying to access the gas pipeline system of "Gazprom" OJSC.

Sometimes suppliers cannot deliver gas to consumers, when they have the required gas-supply contracts with consumers, "Gazprom" OJSC does not satisfy suppliers' applications for access to the gas pipeline system, in particular, on the grounds of the "lack of technical capabilities" of the gas pipeline system. At the same time, in some cases suppliers - members of the same group of persons with "Gazprom" OJSC sent letters to the same customers, offering supplies of the required gas from the resources of "Gazprom" OJSC. In those cases the "lack of technical capabilities" of the gas pipeline system was not an obstacle for supplying gas to consumers.

According to FAS Russia, such actions restrict competition on the market of network gas, because replacing the gas of independent suppliers with the gas of "Gazprom" OJSC can reduce the number of suppliers, independent from the gas monopolist.

Should such petitions from independent companies be filed, FAS Russia shall initiate antimonopoly proceedings against organisations - members of the same group of persons with "Gazprom" OJSC.