Russian Lawmakers Ask Medvedev to Delay Oil Tax Changes

MOSCOW, Nov 5 (Reuters) – Lawmakers have asked Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to postpone changes to the country's oil tax regime which may lead to a spike in gasoline prices, Ivan Grachyov, head of the lower house of parliament's energy committee, said on Wednesday.

"The letter to the prime minister was sent last week. We asked him to postpone the changes in these hard times. If the measures are introduced, the price of gasoline may jump as much as 20 percent," Grachyov told Reuters.

The changes, known as the "tax manoeuvre", foresee cuts to oil export duties and an increase in the mineral extraction tax, which could ultimately lead to increases in gasoline prices for consumers.

The price of gasoline in Russia has already risen by more than 9 percent in January-October, more than the 7.6 percent increase for the whole of 2013, fuelled by higher inflation and a weaker rouble.

Adoption of the tax changes, which are expected to be enforced after Jan. 1 2015, has met with opposition from crude oil producers, some of which have said they will negatively impact oil production.

The Energy Ministry, which sponsored the initiative, has argued the oil tax changes strike a "golden mean" between the industry's investment needs and budget priorities.

Russia's lower house of parliament, the State Duma, approved the changes to the tax regime last month in a first reading. The second, main reading is scheduled to be held later this month.

The country's system of oil taxation means that oil companies have been reluctant to invest in gasoline production because of high export duties, which are in place to protect supplies for domestic car users.

Grachyov said the cut in oil exports duty will lead to companies "shifting the tax burden to consumers".

Analysts say the companies with the highest exposure to the refining sector, such as Bashneft, Gazprom Neft and Lukoil, will be the biggest losers from the tax changes. 

(Additional reporting by Gleb Gorodyankin; Editing by Alexander Winning and Jane Merriman)