"We cannot but welcome whatever exchange transactions," the parliamentarian remarked to Novosti.
The innovation will make gas price formation transparent and easy to understand, he added.
The arrangement will reduce gas prices, improve the quality of offered gas, and attract independent producers and processors to the market, holds Valeri Draganov, Duma committee head for economic policies, private enterprise and tourism.
"I see three positive factors, or more, in the decision. First, it will bring down prices and monopoly hazards. Second, exchange-sold produce will be of better quality-no one will dare come out at the exchange with substandard offers. Last but not least, I hope the arrangement will prelude the emergence of independent extracting and processing companies in the related market," he said to Novosti.
As things are now, independent companies are desperately scarce in the market, he added.
Another opinion came from Igor Nikolayev, who heads the strategic analytical department at the FBC consulting company. If gas price regulation for industrial consumers is given up, that will be a strategically correct move. However, the idea cannot be properly implemented unless it goes hand in hand with new anti-monopoly norms introduced to the acting legislation. There is no way to put an end to price regulation without such amendments. The new norms ought to toughen punishment for abuse of a dominating corporate position. Anti-monopoly laws and their administration require a radical change, he insists.
