Gazprom plans to reduce gas purchases from Novatek

Gazprom plans to purchase 11bcm of natural gas from independent producer Novatek in 2012, down from 17bcm in 2011, RBC News reports quoting Kirill Seleznyov, head of Gazprom's marketing department.

The gas monopoly may sell Novatek its gas distribution subsidiaries in the Chelyabinsk Region, Seleznyov also said. Novatek has been supplying over 50% of gas to consumers in the Chelyabinsk Region, which is why Gazprom decided to sell this asset, he added.