Russia's government may return to the issue of raising taxes and export duties on natural gas next year, if proposals by state gas firm OAO Gazprom (GAZP.RS) don't generate the expected revenue, the Interfax news agency reported Thursday citing Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin.
The minister confirmed reports from Wednesday that the government had decided to scrap a plan to hike taxes on natural gas in order to cover a budget deficit.
The government had initially planned to increase the mineral extraction tax on gas to 162 rubles ($5.30) per 1,000 cubic meters in 2010 from RUB147 and the export duty on natural gas to 35% from 30%.
Instead of raising taxes Gazprom said it would increase sales, which would generate RUB60 billion more in state revenues, Kudrin said.
"We will return to the question of raising export duties and extraction tax, if the measure doesn't generate enough," Kudrin said.