Gazprom chief Executive Alexei Miller speaks during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum

Reuters secured an exclusive interview with the official in charge of Russia’s oil, gas and metals sector in which he told gas export monopoly Gazprom to do more to penetrate Asian markets and urged European customers to give a clear projection of their demand. Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin also called for an overhaul of Russia’s oil taxation system, responding to complaints by investors in East Siberia oil producers over proposals to re-impose an oil export duty on 22 fields in the region.