MOSCOW, March 28. /TASS/. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak does not rule out new attempts to introduce sanctions restrictions, the Russian fuel and energy complex needs to create an independent system of working with friendly countries.
"Of course, we think that there will be new attempts by unfriendly countries to impose sanctions restrictions. It is important for us to create a system to work with our partners that would not depend on these restrictions," Novak said in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV channel.
He added that due to sanctions Russia redirected oil supply flows to friendly countries - mainly to China, India, other countries of the Asia-Pacific region, Central Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Of course, our energy resources are in demand. It is generally impossible to ensure the security of energy supply around the world without our energy resources. Therefore, the same volume is simply redistributed to other areas, which in turn negatively affects energy markets in general and consumers, who are forced to pay more due to the fact that transportation costs are increasing," Novak said.
Novak said earlier that Russia in 2023 will continue to create mechanisms for reorienting supplies, including forming a tanker fleet, payment instruments, transition to national currencies, new insurance and reinsurance systems that would be accepted by customers and partners of Russian companies.
Novak also said earlier that Russia needs a resource base and technologies to reach its goal of producing 100 mln metric tons of LNG per year. "I think that increasing LNG output and export is a critical task in the present environment, when infrastructure to Europe was damaged and we have lost significant volumes of pipeline gas exports. Yes, we will increase supplies to eastern countries, however, the LNG market is also expanding rapidly," Novak said.
In early March, Novak said that Russia needs to have a resource base for LNG projects for another 34 mln metric tons per year in order to increase LNG output to 100 mln metric tons.