In the first half of 2009 Gazprom’s profit totaled 296.243 billion RUB (app 6.8 bill EUR) which is 48 percent lower compared to the first six months of 2008, a press release from the company reads.
Operating expenses and financial charges rose sharply as the cost of purchased gas soared 105 percent, reflecting an increase in prices for gas from Central Asia.
- The increase in the cost of purchased gas was mainly caused by the increase in prices for gas from Central Asia and increase in gas trading activities on the European market, it explained.
Gazprom said its debt for the six months to July had increased 31 percent to 1.3 trillion rubles (23 billion EUR) from the end of 2008.
