Russia: Gazprom Gas Sales Rise

February 1, 2012

Russia’s Gazprom today said that its net sales of gas increased by RUB 491,995 million, or 33%, to RUB 1,987,330 million in the nine months ended September 30, compared to the same period in 2010.

For the nine months ended September 30, 2011 net sales of gas to Europe and other countries increased by RUB 258,596 million, or 34%, to RUB 1,026,451 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This mainly results from the increase of average realized prices in RUB terms (including customs duties) by 21% which was enhanced by the increase of the volume of gas sold by 8%, or 8.3 bcm.

Net sales of gas to FSU countries increased by RUB 168,538 million, or 58%, to RUB 458,608 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase of sales in this segment is explained by the increase of volumes of gas sold by 33%, or 15.6 bcm, which was enhanced by the increase of the average realized prices in RUB terms (including customs duties, net of VAT) by 15%.

Net sales of gas in the domestic market increased by RUB 64,861 million, or 15%, to RUB 502,271 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. This is explained primarily by the increase in the average domestic price for gas established by the Federal Tariffs Service.

Net sales of refined products increased by RUB 213,012 million, or 42%, to RUB 717,723 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase was due to the increase of prices for refined products and increase of volumes sold.

Net electric and heat energy sales increased by RUB 38,097 million, or 19%, to RUB 237,545 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in electric and heat energy sales is explained by the increase in the tariffs for electric and heat energy and by the increase in volumes.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2011 net sales of crude oil and gas condensate increased by RUB 23,072 million, or 16%, to RUB 164,438 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in net sales of crude oil and gas condensate primarily resulted from the Gazprom neft activities: net sales of crude oil increased by RUB 11,693 million, or 10%, to RUB 133,368 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010, the increase of net sales of crude oil was mainly caused by the increase in oil prices. Net sales of gas condensate increased by RUB 11,379 million, or 58%, to RUB 31,070 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase of gas condensate sales was primarily due to the increase in the average realized prices and volumes of gas condensate sold.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2011 net gas transportation sales increased by RUB 15,306 million, or 23%, to RUB 82,501 million compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010. The increase in net gas transportation sales was primarily due to the increase in the tariffs for transportation of gas for independent gas suppliers, and due to the increase in volumes of gas transported for independent gas suppliers.

Operating expenses increased by RUB 392,685 million, or 23%, to RUB 2,119,289 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2011 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

The major item in the total amount of operating expenses is «Purchased gas and oil» which increased by RUB 200,381 million. The increase in cost of purchased gas relates to the increase in volumes and increase in prices of gas purchased from third parties within Russian Federation and abroad.

In the nine months ended September 30, 2011 Gazprom’s profit for the period attributable to owners of OAO Gazprom totaled RUB 923,647 million which is RUB 269,926 million, or 41% higher, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2010.

Gazprom’s net debt balance increased by RUB 173,413 million, or 20%, from RUB 870,993 million as of December 31, 2010 to RUB 1,044,406 million as of September 30, 2011. This can be explained by the raising of new long-term borrowings, the appreciation of USD and Euro against RUB and the decrease in cash and cash equivalents.