“I would like to note that Russia also has record gas consumption figures this year.
Inside the country, "RIA Novosti quotes Novak as saying.
The deputy prime minister added that this is due to the economic recovery after the pandemic and low water levels this year, due to which hydroelectric power plants generate less electricity.
“We also removed a larger volume from our underground gas storage facilities than usual.
And this also required pumping into our underground gas storage facilities, ”Novak explained.
At the same time, he noted that despite the record indicators of gas consumption in the domestic market, Russia is ready to consider an increase in fuel exports to Europe.
As previously stated in the European Commission, Gazprom fully complies with long-term contracts for gas supplies to the EU and does not manipulate prices on the gas market.