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Russian premier says gradual demonopolizing of natural gas exports possible

“It’s high time we considered the liberalization of LNG exports,” Medvedev told a group of reporters

SOCHI, May 19 (Itar-Tass) - Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Sunday he believes that a stage-by-stage demonopolizing of natural gas exports is possible but it should be preceded by liberalization of the exports of liquefied natural gas /LNG/.

“It’s high time we considered the liberalization of LNG exports,” Medvedev told a group of reporters.

He said at the same time that the intentions of independent producers /to obtain the rights to LNG exports/ do not stand at variance with the plans of the natural gas giant OAO Gazprom in any way.

Medvedev added to it that the law on a unified export channel continues holding legal effect in the Russian Federation as regards the so-called ‘pipeline natural gas’. “We shouldn’t encroach on it,” he said.

According to the information available to Itar-Tass Gazprom and its specialized affiliation, Gazprom Export, have the exclusive right to export the ‘pipeline natural gas’ today.

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