German Gref said last fall Russia was facing energy problems.
"I do not want to frighten anyone, but I think a similar problem may emerge with gas in a couple of years," he said today addressing a government council on competitiveness and entrepreneurship.
Gref said independent gas producers should be encouraged by creating transparent conditions for investors' access to the national pipeline system.
Energy consumption levels in the Russian capital rose to historic highs last winter as the cold snap reached its peak in January-February, when temperatures in Moscow were periodically dropping as low as -32°C (-25.6°F).
Moscow energy utility Mosenergo was forced to cut supplies to some industrial and commercial consumers in order to maintain power and heat deliveries to residential customers and critical services.