The price of Russian natural gas exports could be reduced by cutting mediator fees and taxes by consumer countries, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin said on Tuesday. He said it was unjust to demand that Russian gas monopoly Gazprom lower its prices because there was a long chain of intermediaries between the gas holding and the end consumer. He said that included states charging taxes and fees.
"There are various possibilities for reducing [gas] prices, including by cutting taxes and commissions," he said. He stressed that Gazprom was the most reliable gas supplier in the world and nothing could affect its supplies, once contracted.
