The proposal by energy major Gazprom has gained finance ministry support
The Russian Finance Ministry has supported the idea of expanding the ruble-for-gas payments scheme to foreign sales of liquefied natural gas (LNG), as proposed earlier by deputy department head at Gazprom Kirill Polous.
The ministry “strongly supports” the proposal, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov was quoted as saying by Russian business daily Vedomosti.
The Gazprom senior official proposed the move last week, speaking at a round table meeting with the State Duma Energy Committee.
According to Polous, the ruble-for-gas scheme, which is applied to exports of Russian natural gas to unfriendly nations, doesn’t currently include the sale of LNG, and is creating unwanted competition.