Russia to see record domestic gas consumption this year: Novak

Russia is expected to consume a record amount of natural gas this year, deputy prime minister Alexander Novak said in an interview on the Russia-1 television channel on October 16.

Novak, Russia's former energy minister, said the spike in gas demand was the result of the post-coronavirus economic recovery as well as cold weather and a drop in output at hydroelectric dams due to low water levels.

Speaking on Russia's Business FM radio on October 15, Novak dismissed claims that Russia is withholding gas supplies from the European market to speed up the certification process at Nord Stream 2, or expand the use of long-term supply contracts. European consumers have in recent years reduced the use of long-term contracts in favour of spot sales.

Novak insisted that Russia was producing gas at its maximum capacity.