Russian petroleum companies to pay 16.5 billion for burning associated gas, RIA Novosti cites Deputy Minister for Natural Resources Denis Khramov as saying.
The bill on excess of gas burning comes into force on January 1, 2013. Arkady Dvorkovich's commission for fuel and energy will study the payment order.95% of associated gases are to be utilized, according to the rules passed on January 1, 2012.
Russia extracted 65.4 billion cubic meters of associated gas in 2010. 15.7 billion cubic meters, or 24%, were burnt. The World Bank said that satellite studies registered burning of over 35 billion cubic meters.
Tatneft and Surgutneftegaz are the only companies that burned 95% of associated gas, Rosneft burnt less than 60%.
Minister for Natural Resources Sergey Donskoy said that 95% burning will be achieved only in 2014.
