Newspaper Vedomosti in an editorial warns against the consequences of the higher domestic gas prices. Russian industry will hardly manage a quick recovery if the prices on gas continue to grow at the current speed, the newspaper argues. In 2009, domestic gas prices increased by 46 percent, which for the first time gave Gazprom a net revenue from the sales. The company is actively lobbying a further domestic price increase, which eventually will provide equal proportions of its revenues from domestic and foreign sales. That, however, will results in higher power prices for Russian industry, as well as for households. The lion’s share of Russian thermal power plants runs on gas, and higher prices will force them to raise tariffs on electricity and heating for the consumers. Gazprom in 2009 sold 11 percent less gas to the EU compared to 2008. Meanwhile, alternative suppliers and energy sources strongly increased their stakes in the market.
