Gazprom is losing customers in the domestic market

Gazprom is losing customers in the domestic market
Russia's gas sales to consumers through Mezhregiongaz because of the recession in the past year decreased by 6.7% relative to 2008, told RBC daily source familiar with the materials to the board of directors of Gazprom, which will be held on January 26. Thus, metallurgy bought 7% less than last year, electric power - on 4,5%. In 2010, sales in the domestic market, projected to the group, should be at the level of 2009. This monopoly notes that consumers in the regions located close to the fields of production by independent gas producers are increasingly reduce her purchases of raw materials.
Thus, natural gas, Gazprom, they replace cheaper gas independent suppliers. Currently undergoing a period of contract for fuel supplies for 2010, while consumers have already signed the agreement in force until 2012, are asked to reduce the liability for failure to select the gas. To maintain sales, the monopoly began to negotiate with buyers to reduce gas prices. In Gazprom declined to comment on its pricing policy.

This year "Gazprom" has lost at least two large customers - "Inter RAO UES" and OGK-1. In 2010, he had them put on long-term contracts of about 9.7 billion cubic meters. meters of gas. But the company chose to go to Novatek. Now, for breaking agreements, they face fines - up to 23.9 billion rubles. However, a source in one of them had told RBC daily, that, despite possible sanctions, the contract with Gazprom Novatek much more comfortable. Thus, in particular, the monopolist requires prepayment for gas at 50% and does not agree to reduce the volume of purchases under contract.

In LUKoil said that so far can not compete with Gazprom on the domestic gas market, since it belongs to the gas transportation system. This company produces natural gas in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, where one buyer - "Gazprom". However, the situation should change, when LUKOIL will start producing gas in the Caspian Sea and build a gas ¬ wire from the Caspian shore to the Krasnodar region. TNK-BP also plans to expand its gas business. "We hope that the gas market in the country will grow, but even if not, you are ready to compete by offering customers more favorable terms of sales", - said the representative of the company. As stated in the memorandum to the Eurobond TNK-BP, it intends to triple its gas supplies in 2016, to 9.9 billion cubic meters. m.

Increasing the share of independent producers in the domestic gas market - has already begun the process, notes the analyst of IFC Metropol, Alexander Nazarov. They are more flexible in its pricing policy, as well as more effective at work and can afford to lower prices than "Gazprom". The average price of independent suppliers by 5% below the so-called limit price and 15-25% lower than the free price, said analyst of Veles Capital Dmitry Lyutyagin. In addition, buying gas directly from wells, the consumer can save even more essential, alone or jointly with an independent provider (which, actually, and practiced) extending the pipeline. According to Alexander Nazarov, the chief competitor to the monopoly is now becoming Novatek, but the real competition to speak still is early. Gazprom still produces more than 80% of Russia's gas.