About 93% of 120 applications by gas producers for environmental impact assessments have not been acted on, bringing new exploration and some production to a halt

About 93% of 120 applications by gas producers for environmental impact assessments have not been acted on, bringing new exploration and some production to a halt, the nation’s Association of Gas Producers, complained Monday in a press statement. With gas production stagnant and Russia threatening to cut flows in 2020, pressure is mounting to cut red tape and ramp up production. Roman Opimakh, executive director of the Association blamed the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources for poor implementation of a one year old law. He said: “Now, unfortunately, we see the dubious consequences – stop production in the fields and [permit] refusal to drill planned wells.”