State management in the oil and gas sector: Last autumn of current political cycle

The main political intrigue of the upcoming election cycle would seem to be over. Vladimir Putin is set to return to the president’s office, while Dmitry Medvedev is to chair the Cabinet. But in reality, everything is just about to begin. Some scenarios of reformatting Russian state authorities are indeed ruled out. Yet, there are many unclear things, including the question of the oil and gas sector management. Changes in the system are unavoidable. There is temptation to fix the rules of the game for the next six years, which adds a special connotation to the upcoming transformation.

The new report is devoted to the present and the future. Authors attempt to analyze changes in the system of managing the oil and gas sector over the past 1.5 years. But the main thing is to understand what awaits the sector in spring 2012, when formal election procedures are completed and a new Cabinet and the president’s executive office are introduced to the country.

The report elaborates on the following issues:

• Latest HR changes in respective ministries and agencies

  • Reasons and consequences
  • What clans have strengthened their influence and what groups are facing administrative problems

• Latest projects

  • The most important initiatives promoted by clans in the last few months of operation of Putin’s current political system
  • Establishment of Rosgeologia
  • The fate of the law « On Oil »

• Taxation procedures

  • Prior to Alexey Kudrin’s dismissal quite important decisions were made concerning, in particular, the 60-66 regime and new rates of the gas production tax
  • How will the sector profit from the retirement of its main opponent?
  • Successes and failures of clans in lobbying special taxation procedures

• What to expect in May 2012?

  • The main question is what system of managing the oil and gas sector will be presented after Putin is inaugurated and Medvedev is appointed prime minister in May 2012
  • Main models from the point of view of relations in the presidential administration-government-companies triangle
  • Possible candidates for the role of supervisor of the fuel and energy sector in the government

The contents of the report::