MOSCOW, Oct 4 Reuters The Russian state39;s oil and gas revenues rose by around 15 in September, monthonmonth, to 739.9 billion roubles 7.44 billion, finance ministry data showed on Wednesday, thanks to a rise in proceeds from the mineral extraction tax.

Revenues from oil and gas sales, crucial for Russia39;s commodityoriented economy, were also up 7.5 compared to the same month in 2022.

This was broadly in line with Reuters39; preliminary calculations.

Oil and gas revenues in the entire JanuarySeptember period declined by 34.5 to 5.576 trillion roubles, yearonyear.

Russia39;s energy revenues have been squeezed by Western sanctions, such as price caps and an embargo on seaborne oil exports, and by the closure of the Nord Stream gas pipelines to Europe, which were blown up in September 2022. Investigators have yet to establish who was responsible for the blasts.

Gross proceeds from the mineral extraction tax rose to 1.09 trillion roubles in September from 874.8 billion roubles in August thanks to an increase in the prices of the commodities.

Payments to refineries under the socalled damper mechanism introduced to stop companies capitalising on high fuel export prices and defend the domestic market rose to 298.7 billion roubles last month from 185.9 billion roubles in August.

These payments will be stopped from next month, as the government seeks to tackle the budget deficit.

The prospective abolition of the damper payments contributed to fuel shortages that…