Improvement of the System of Statistical Indicators of the State and Development of the Fuel and Energy Complex of the Russian Federation

Abstract

The article proposes an improved system of statistical indicators for assessing the state and development of the fuel and energy complex of Russia, which defines a methodological approach to identifying factors and trends in its development. The introduction highlights the relevance of modernization of information and methodological support for reaching decisions on new tasks, including those related to the digitalization of the economy and implementation of the national projects’ portfolio. The body of the article critically examines the current configuration of official and departmental statistical information, based on which the authors selected 85 key indicators reflecting the state and development level of the fuel and energy complex of Russia. All of them can be delineated by sectors and analysis tasks. This evaluation system includes 7 blocks: general block characterizing the role of the fuel and energy complex in the economic system; key industry performance indicators; indicators of the production structure by industry; technological indicators of industries; prices for fuel and energy resources; production costs by industry; distribution indicators of fuel and energy resources. The paper analyses development trends in the fuel and energy sectors for 2008-2018. In particular, the authors’ research showed that modern oil production is characterized by a change in the territorial structure, as well as the reinstatement of the role of vertically integrated companies in the development of oil production. The article presents findings on the technological upgrading of Russian oil refining. However, the authors’ research proved that oil refining depth has ceased to be a reliable indicator of the level of technological equipment and modernization level of oil refineries. With regard to the development of the gas industry, there has been a steady increase in gas production, which is supported by maintaining a steady increase in demand for Russian gas in the domestic and foreign markets. The all-time high domestic consumer demand for gas fuel, associated with the Russian Regions Gasification Program implemented by the Ministry of Energy of Russia, was recorded. At the same time, the authors identified the main risk factors in the development of the industry related to Gazprom (a backbone of the energy sector) activities. The persistent positive growth dynamics in commodity production of associated petroleum gas was established. It was also noted that the highest percentage of its beneficial use is characteristic of operators of production sharing agreements. As for the results of the analysis of the coal industry, a matter of interest is the growth of domestic prices for coal products and related derivative trends. Particular attention is paid to the development of the possibilities of using over-the-counter coal price indicators. Replacement of coal with natural gas at a thermal power station in most regions of the country is of interest within the identified development trends of the electric power industry in Russia, which is explained by the environmental friendliness of electricity generation.