Gazprom Adds Novak, Martynov to Board of Directors

Gazprom formed on Friday a new Board of Directors, formally confirming the Government’s role in the company through the appointment of Russia’s Energy Minister Alexander Novak.

The old members were eleven: Akimov Andrey Igorevich, Gazizullin Farit Rafikovich, Karpel Elena Evgenievna, Kulibaev Timur, Markelov Vitaly Anatolievich, Mau Vladimir Alexandrovich, Miller Alexey Borisovich, Musin Valery Abramovich, Sereda Mikhail Leonidovich, Yusufov Igor Khanukovich, Zubkov Viktor Alexeevich. 

The are also eleven new members: Akimov Andrey Igorevich, Gazizullin Farit Rafikovich, Kulibaev Timur Askarovich, Markelov Vitaly Anatolyevich, Martynov Viktor Georgievich, Mau Vladimir Alexandrovich, Miller Alexey Borisovich, Musin Valery Abramovich, Novak Alexander Valentinovich, Sereda Mikhail Leonidovich, Zubkov Viktor Alexeevich.

Apart from Novak, the new member - Martynov - is Rector of Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas. The ones who stepped down are Karpel Elena Evgenievna, and Yusufov Igor Khanukovich, former Russian energy Minister who served during Vladimir Putin's first term as President.

According to pundits, Rosneft and Gazprom are struggling because of sanctions. Rosneft’s deal with BP and Gazprom’s declarations about Shell, E.ON and OMV were recently defined as not enough to cover the significant issues the two companies are having. The problems are mainly related to Russian halt to Arctic projects. 

During an interview with Reuters, Alexei Texler, Russia's deputy energy minister, said on Friday that Moscow must change its oil taxation regime if it wants its Arctic offshore projects to get off the ground.