Problems and prospects for development of the gas industry in the domestic market in 2022

Abstract

The new conditions for 2022 imply a reduction in natural gas exports from Russia to Europe. We expect an overall reduction in natural gas exports from Russia from 244 bill. cub. m in 2021 to 155 bills. cub. m in 2025. Not only physical export flows, but also financial ones will be reduced, which may change the financial condition of Russian companies and require adjustment of their behavior models and strategies. In such conditions, the development of the domestic natural gas market, which has been discussed for the past 20 years, becomes an extremely topical topic. Therefore, this article will focus on the domestic gas market. The main producers of natural gas in Russia, their operating conditions, tax regulation, access to exports and their role in the domestic market will be analyzed and studied. In addition, domestic gas consumers will be considered and the potential for growth in natural gas consumption in the Russian domestic market, which lies in the growth of the chemical industry and the development of gasification, will be assessed. The article will put forward proposals for rebuilding the existing model of the domestic gas market, such as the abolition of the severance tax on new volumes of gas supplies, expanding the capabilities of independent companies in terms of domestic gas supply and gasification, optimizing approaches to choosing settlements for gasification, allowing all gas companies to export LNG, solving the pricing problem: choosing the optimal model for price liberalization in segments other than households and housing and communal services.