OREANDA-NEWS. June 13, 2013. The Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia) has devised a draft Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation “On Ensuring Non-Discriminatory Access to the Gas-Distribution Networks in the Russian Federation”.

The draft Decree abolishes No.1370 Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation “On Approving the Regulations on Ensuring Access of Organizations to the Local Gas-Distribution Networks” of 24th November 1998.

The new Decree is devised to promote competition on the gas market and improve the access system to the gas-distribution networks in the Russian Federation.

For instance, the draft Decree introduces a definition of free capacity of gas-distribution networks and creates equal conditions for access to these facilities for the members of the group of persons of “Gazprom” OJSC and independent companies. Introduction of this principle will simplify consumer access to the gas-distribution networks.

Non-discriminatory access to the market of selling natural gas is important for developing competition. One of an integral element of non-discriminatory access is connecting to the gas-distribution networks. Therefore, the issues of technological connection must be considered as an integral part of the general rules for non-discriminatory access to the gas-distribution networks.

To this purpose, the draft Decree introduces a detailed regulation of the issues of connecting to the gas-distribution networks for gas transportation and supply in order to create equal conditions for the owners of the gas-distribution networks, including members of the group of persons of “Gazprom” OJSC, and organizations independent from the owners of the gas-distribution networks.