#6038
[Second Issue of the Day]
#6
BBC Monitoring
Russian premier against sharp rise of tariffs on
services of natural monopolies
Source: Russian Public TV (ORT), Moscow, in Russian 0900 gmt 24 Jan
02
[Presenter Olga Kokorekina] The Russian government is now discussing changing the tariffs on services provided by natural monopolies [Gazprom, Unified Energy System of Russia and Russian Railway Ministry].
[Omitted: known facts]
Our correspondent Natalya Semenikhina joins us live. Natalya?
[Correspondent] Last year the ministers decided that annual growth of tariffs of all natural monopolies should be limited by 35 per cent.
[Omitted: known facts]
[Russian Prime Minister] Mikhail Kasyanov said at the beginning of the session that the government had scrutinized the financial affairs of all natural monopolies and concluded that all of them should cut production costs.
[Kasyanov] It is clear that the key issue is to cut costs, because we cannot allow with closed eyes all problems to be solved by increasing tariffs and prices, ultimately at the expense of the consumers of goods and services produced by those infractructures [natural monopolies].
[Correspondent] As we know, tariffs will be indexed in two steps. The first mandatory one will take place in February-March. As for the second one, it may never happen. At least, Kasyanov made it clear that natural monopolies would have to present to the cabinet very serious arguments to use the 35-per-cent limit in full. It will happen only in an exceptional situation and in exceptional circumstances.
[Kasyanov] In line with a forecast we made, 35 per cent is the maximum increase that we can accept. We made an additional analysis after the government considered this issue and now it is clear that this level, which is already lower than the monopolies asked, should be reached only in exceptional circumstances.
[Omitted: correspondent said that natural monopolies would have to coordinate their budgets with the government in the next two or three years; that the government will also consider the investment programme of the Russian Railway Ministry.]
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