Russian gas giant Gazprom has been warned off acquiring generation assets spun off by UES. According to comments attributed to Alexander Pirozhenko, head of the Federal Anti-Monopoly Service’s supervisory department, Gazprom and coal producer SUEK should not be allowed to control wholesale or regional generation companies on anti-competition grounds.
Gazprom already holds 10% – 15% of UES equity, while SUEK has more than 40% in some Siberian and Far Eastern energos. Nonetheless, the comments are expected to dash Gazprom plans to transform itself into a gas and power utility.