08-12-04

Russia could stop energy exports by 2010 because of its low energy efficiency, Igor Bashmakov, Executive Director of the Centre for Effective Energy Use, said at a round table meeting "Russia’s energy strategy: problems of energy saving in the fuel and energy sector".

"If we continue developing our oil and gas sector without increasing energy efficiency, we might have to stop exporting energy resources as they will be consumed by the domestic market," Bashmakov said.

In his opinion, one of Russia’s main problems in implementing its energy strategy is that Russia does not have a state policy of increasing energy efficiency.

"The market cannot regulate energy saving effectively without help from the state," he added.

The meeting was held in Moscow.

It was attended by the representatives of the Russian government, the State Duma, the Federation Council, ministries, government departments, Gazprom, Unified Energy Systems of Russia and independent gas producers.

Source: RosBusinessConsulting