Below is a summary of the main energy-related events in Russia, the CIS and neighboring countries on November 23, 2005
* Russian energy giant Gazprom said the following:
- It plans to produce 548 billion cubic meters of natural gas in 2006, 550 billion in 2007 and 553 billion in 2008
- It intends to spend $4.3 billion on repaying loans taken out to finance its $13.1 billion purchase of a 76.7% stake in oil major Sibneft
- Its export arm will increase natural gas exports to countries outside the former Soviet Union to 151 billion cubic meters in 2006
- It has made the first step toward a swap deal on exchanging pipeline natural gas with liquefied natural gas with French gas major Gaz de France
- It has extended a contract to supply Romania with natural gas until 2030
- It intends to increase natural gas exports to Britain to 5 billion cubic meters in 2006, and up to 10 billion in 2010
*Gazexport, the export arm of Gazprom, said a cubic meter of natural gas would cost $200 in Europe in 2006
* The Russian parliament's lower chamber, the State Duma, postponed a debate on a bill that would liberalize state energy giant and gas monopoly Gazprom's shares until December 7
* Russia produced 390 million metric tons of oil in the first 10 months of 2005 and 521 million cubic meters of natural gas, the Economic Development and Trade Ministry said Wednesday
* Russian oil major Sibneft said it planned to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in 2008-2012 by about 20 million metric tons and to make a profit of about $150 million from sales of quotas on gas emissions
* The failure to resolve issues of Russian natural gas supplies to and its transit through Ukraine made Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov put off his visit to the country, slated for November 23
* The Iraqi foreign minister said Russian oil major LUKoil's contracts in Iraq could be resumed after the formation of the Iraqi government
* A leak occurred on an oil pipeline in the Kemerovo Region in West Siberia early Wednesday morning
* The Russian parliament's upper house, the Federation Council, endorsed amendments authorizing the government to set limits on heating and power tariffs before introducing a draft federal budget
* Moscow's regional energy company Mosenergo said:
- Electricity and heating tariffs could double by 2010
- An estimated $14 billion needs to be invested in Moscow's energy facilities by 2020
* A local energy company said the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Far East of Russia was facing an energy crisis due to a lack of stockpiled fuel
