Russian state gas monopoly Gazprom could be poised to cross into the nuclear power sector with the blessing of the government, reports emanating from Moscow have suggested.
According to the Russian news agency Prime-Tass, Russia’s deputy prime minister Alexander Zhukov has given his backing to a proposal that would involve Gazprom financing the construction of nuclear facilities domestically.
The gas giant is believed to be attracted to the idea as substituting domestic energy supply from its nuclear sources would allow it to sell more gas abroad, where prices are considerably higher.
Currently Gazprom receives on average only one fifth of the international price for its gas from domestic power plant clients.