Russian energy giant Gazprom said today it aims to increase its gas deliveries to the European Union this year by some 15 per cent to 160.8 billion cubic metres, according to dpa. The average price was ofressen at 236 dollars per 1,000 cubic metres, up 10 per cent from the 2009 level, the Russian gas monopoly said. With the increased deliveries, Gazprom foresees its share of the Euroepan market rising this year to 28 per cent, from last year's 28 per cent. The goal is to achieve a market share of 32 per cent by the year 2020. The company also reported that for the first time, it turned a profit on its gas business inside Russia itself, thanks to higher prices. The profit was 70 billion roubles (2.3 billion dollars). Till now, Russian consumers pay lower prices for gas than foreign customers. But domestic prices are to be raised to match foreign price levels by 2014.
