Deputy PM: Gazprom to Increase Production Capacity if Europe Increases Volume of Long-Term Contracts
06:16 GMT 15.10.2021 (Updated: 06:53 GMT 15.10.2021)
© AFP 2023 / ANDREY GOLOVANOVA worker of Russian gas and oil giant Gazprom works on February 18, 2015 in Novoprtovskoye oil and gas condensates oilfield at Cape Kamenny in the Gulf of Ob shore line in the south-east of a peninsular in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, 250 km north of the town of Nadym, northern Russia
![A worker of Russian gas and oil giant Gazprom works on February 18, 2015 in Novoprtovskoye oil and gas condensates oilfield at Cape Kamenny in the Gulf of Ob shore line in the south-east of a peninsular in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, 250 km north of the town of Nadym, northern Russia A worker of Russian gas and oil giant Gazprom works on February 18, 2015 in Novoprtovskoye oil and gas condensates oilfield at Cape Kamenny in the Gulf of Ob shore line in the south-east of a peninsular in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, 250 km north of the town of Nadym, northern Russia - Sputnik International, 1920, 15.10.2021](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/103591/70/1035917083_0:182:4050:2460_1920x0_80_0_0_d8ac6112d69df12263b2420bf0159da7.jpg)
© AFP 2023 / ANDREY GOLOVANOV
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Earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak spoke at a session of the Russian Energy Week, saying that Russia is able to increase its oil output, but the decision should depend on the market situation.
Russian Deputy Prime Minster Alexander Novak said in an interview with Business FM news agency at the Russian Energy Week event that Gazprom will develop production capacities on a larger scale if long-term contracts with its European partners grow.
"If there is an increase in the order from our European partners and an increase in the volume of long-term contracts, supplies, I think that Gazprom will, of course, develop its production capacities in an even greater volume compared to even today, which are already at maximum levels, compared to previous years," Novak said.
Gas prices are high in Europe because of low storage levels and not because of a lack of supply, Novak added.
"Today the European market is fully provided with gas, because the supply of imports in general, plus our own production, ensure the domestic consumption of the European market. At the same time, even partially gas is pumped into underground gas storages, that is, there is no shortage of gas," Novak said.
The Russian official added that the problem is related to the fact that "the occupancy of gas storages is at the minimum level over the past five years, that is, approximately 74%, while this percentage is usually higher - 85-90%."
"This, of course, raises concerns among market participants, there are risks, as a result, as usual, the market reacts, prices rise," the deputy prime minister said, adding that Russia’s Gazprom will increase production capacity if European partners increase the volume of long-term contracts.
Russian Energy Week takes place on 13-15 October in Moscow.
The European energy market has been rocked by a sharp rise in fossil fuel prices, especially natural gas, spurred by increasing energy demand amid the global economic recovery after months of COVID-19 lockdowns, as well as limited supply.