Gazprom's domestic competition is framing its gas-pipeline monopoly as a national security threat

A Russian National Security Council commission held in early July reportedly advised the government to “liberalize” federal laws on natural gas exports, taking aim at the monopoly enjoyed by the state gas company Gazprom.

According to the newspaper Vedomosti, two means of liberalizing Russia’s gas exports would be limiting Gazprom’s monopoly on gas pipelines used to supply foreign consumers, and expanding Russia’s exports of liquefied natural gas. Gazprom representatives were reportedly absent at the meeting.

The company could lose $6.5 billion if independent gas producers were granted access to Russia’s export pipelines, according to one estimate.