Today, at the Gazprom Headquarters, Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Jean-Francois Cirelli, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Gaz de France signed an Agreement to extend existing contracts for Russian gas supply to France up to 2030.

The parties achieved an accord to launch supply of extra gas volumes to Gaz de France from the end of 2010 via the Blue Stream Gas Pipeline. The annual gas supply volume will be 2.5 bcm.

Gazprom receives the opportunity to directly deliver gas to final consumers in France in the amount of nearly 1.5 bcm per year.

The parties will also study possibilities to further cooperate in the LNG supply, personnel training and environmental protection areas.

“Thirty years have passed since Gazprom and Gaz de France signed first contracts for Russian gas deliveries. I am happy about signing these new Agreements with Gazprom as the largest natural gas supplier to Europe. Said Agreements will significantly solidify the long-term partnership between Gazprom and Gaz de France. Deeper business cooperation with Gazprom stimulates strengthening the gas supply security for our consumers in France and Europe in a long-term perspective,” said Jean-Francois Cirelli.

“The Agreements signed today are the next step towards more reliable long-term partnership between Russia and France. It is a vivid example of Gazprom’s successful implementation of its strategy aimed at entering the final consumer market in European countries and improving the Russian gas export efficiency,” said Alexey Miller.

Reference:

Gaz de France is a major European natural gas company engaged in gas exploration, production, marketing and distribution.

The Gaz de France is a leading gas distributor in Europe. Gaz de France provides services to 13.8 mln consumers including 11.1 mln in France.

In June 2005, the company quoted on the Paris Stock Exchange. In September 2005 Gaz de France joined the CAC 40 share index and the Dow Jones Stoxx 600.

Since the beginning of cooperation in the gas supply sector back in 1975, Gazprom has provided Gaz de France with over 260 bcm of gas, including with 13.1 bcm in 2005.

On June 28, 2003, Gazprom and Gaz de France signed a Memorandum on cooperation deepening. In addition to the gas supply business, Gaz de France and Gazprom have cooperated in the energy saving, transmission capacity upgrading, gas loss reduction, underground gas storage facility construction and operation, liquefied natural gas production and staff re-training sectors.

On September 19, 2005, Gazprom and Gaz de France signed a Protocol for further cooperation deepening.

On November 23, 2005, Gazprom and Gaz de France struck the first pipeline gas for LNG swap deal. In early December 2005, a tanker filled with LNG was sold to Shell Western LNG at the Cove Point regasification terminal (Maryland, USA).