Today Khabarovsk hosted a working meeting between Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom Management Committee and Vyacheslav Shport, Governor of the Khabarovsk Krai.

The parties discussed the progress in the Cooperation Agreement and the Gasification Accord between Gazprom and the Khabarovsk Krai Government. Special emphasis was put on the prospects for Gazprom’s participation in the arrangement of gas supplies to the region. It was noted that execution of the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas pipeline project laid a sound foundation for further regional gasification, created workplaces and would have a positive impact on the socio-economic development of Russian Far Eastern regions.

Background:

Gazprom and the Khabarovsk Krai Government entered into the Cooperation Agreement on April 22, 2002 and into the Gasification Accord on January 23, 2006.

At present, Gazprom doesn’t supply natural gas to Krai’s consumers.

Gas penetration in the Khabarovsk Krai totals 13.5 per cent.

The September 2007 Order by the Russian Federation Industry and Energy Ministry approved the Development Program for an integrated gas production, transportation and supply system in Eastern Siberia and the Far East, taking into account potential gas exports to China and other Asia-Pacific countries (Eastern Gas Program). Gazprom was appointed by the Russian Federation Government as the Program execution coordinator.

The Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas transmission system (GTS) is a top priority of the Eastern Gas Program. In pursuance of the assignment by the Russian Government and the decision by Gazprom’s Board of Directors adopted in September 2008, the work is currently underway to create this GTS for the purpose of developing gas supply to the Khabarovsk Krai and Sakhalin Oblast, and organizing gas supply to the Primorsky Krai starting from the third quarter of 2011.

Gazprom invest Vostok (a wholly owned subsidiary of Gazprom) is the customer of the project for the construction of the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas trunkline.