Russia may have a balanced budget in 2014, if prices for oil, its key export, are at about $100 per barrel, Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said on Monday.
"I think we will have no deficit by 2015. It may happen earlier, if (oil) prices stay at about $100, then it may happen in 2014," Kudrin told Rossiya 24 TV channel.
In 2010, Russia's deficit amounted to 1.795 trillion rubles, or 3.9% of gross domestic product compared to a forecast 5.3%.
The Russian authorities forecast the budget deficit at 1.814 trillion rubles or 3.6% of GDP in 2011, 1.734 trillion rubles or 3.1% of GDP in 2012 and 1.795 trillion rubles, or 2.9% of GDP in 2013.
The International Monetary Fund's forecast released in January says Russia's budget deficit may amount to 2.9% of GDP in 2011.
MOSCOW, February 21 (RIA Novosti)
