Government suggests Gazprom change order of pipeline purchases

MOSCOW, Feb 20 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Industry and Trade Ministry has sent a letter to Gazprom suggesting changes into the company’s order of pipeline procurements that ensure equal rights for all pipe sellers, as seen by PRIME in the letter on Wednesday.

The ministry has adjusted Gazprom’s procurement standard together with the Federal Antimonopoly Service and pipeline producers to minimize procurements from a single supplier to ensure equal access of all producers of large-diameter pipelines to Gazprom’s tenders, the letter says.

Under the changes, Gazprom also must announce another tender with better conditions if a tender fails, a ban on signing of a contract with a single supplier at conditions different from conditions of the second tender, and a formula that defines the initial minimum price of a tender.

The ministry also said that these suggestions are subject to further discussions, but a source familiar with the matter told PRIME that if disputes around Gazprom’s pipe procurements remain, the issue would be submitted for discussion at a government meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

In November, sources told PRIME that Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov met with Russian producers of large-diameter pipelines who were dissatisfied with the procurement policy of Gazprom. The companies said that Gazprom’s policy do not comply with the principles of transparency and fairness for pipeline producers.

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