"Gazprom" exports in the current year is below the most modest estimates - the head of the company stated on Thursday, December 29, 2011. Gas export of "Gazprom" to non-CIS countries will be below plan, the chairman of the company Alexei Miller admitted officially.
Miller said that according to the results of this year the company exports a little over 150 billion cubic meters to Europe. Preliminary estimate of exports to foreign countries, according to Central Dispatching Department of the Fuel and Energy Complex, is 150.3 billion cubic meters.
The initial forecast of gas exports of "Gazprom" to foreign countries was 151 billion cubic meters, but the positive trend of exports has started in spring, so the company has become bolder in estimates - 155 billion cubic meters of gas. The growth drivers were regarded as an accident at the Japanese Atomic Power Station "Fukushima-1", as well as the civil war in Libya. The experts also noted that Europe stored gas before the increase in gas prices. In June Miller announced an even more bold prediction - 155-158 billion cubic meters of gas. In September and early November he confirmed these predictions. In November the company returned to the old conservative estimate of 151 billion cubic meters.
The results of the export of "Gazprom" spoiled abnormally warm weather in December, as well as the unfavorable pricing environment. In particular Italy in December preferred Norwegian gas, prices of which are more flexible, instead of the expensive Russian gas.
In 2010 the gas exports totaled 138.6 billion cubic meters.