Gazprom’s delegation continues its visit to the Altai Krai and the Republic of Altai.

Today Gorno-Altaisk hosted a joint meeting dedicated to the Republic of Altai gasification. The meeting was co-chaired by Alexander Berdnikov, Head of the Republic of Altai, Chairman of the Altai Government and Valery Golubev, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee.

The meeting was attended by Viktor Ilyushin, Member of the Management Committee – Head of the Department for the Relationships with Russian Regions, Gazprom, heads and specialists from Gazprom’s core business units and its subsidiaries – Mezhregiongaz, Gazprom transgaz Tomsk as well as heads of the executive branch and municipalities of the Republic of Altai.

In his opening speech Valery Golubev noted that the Republic of Altai gasification not only established the prerequisites for faster economic development but also considerably improved the environmental situation in the region. This is very important taking into consideration the significance of Altai as one of the most intensively developing resort areas.

“From 2008 to 2010 Gazprom is planning to invest RUB 1.5 mln in the Republic of Altai gasification. At the moment the gasification program is being implemented through the construction of the Barnaul – Biysk – Gorno-Altaisk gas main with the lateral to Belokurikha. The Altai Project implementation is planned to be another powerful incentive for the regional gasification. This project will help to supply gas to settlements along the gas pipeline route, create new jobs and substantially fill regional and local budgets through tax revenues,” – Valery Golubev noted.

The participants of the meeting addressed the progress in gasification of the Republic. It was noted that the construction of the Barnaul – Biysk – Gorno-Altaisk gas main with the lateral to Belokurikha was being completed by Gazprom according to schedule. In its turn the Government of the Republic of Altai is preparing the customers for gas supply, attracting investments to reconstruct gas facilities and adopting regional legal acts with a view to creating a favorable investment climate for gasification.

“The Government of the Republic of Altai highly appreciates Gazprom’s efforts aiming to improve the life quality of our countrymen. Today the primary task of the Republican Government is to timely prepare all customers (first of all, the population) to receive gas,” – Alexander Berdnikov noted.

At the close of the meeting the attendees signed a Protocol containing the relevant orders to Gazprom’s core business units, the Republic of Altai Government as well as Mezhregiongaz and Gazprom transgaz Tomsk. These orders are aimed at the fulfillment of commitments by all the interested parties involved in the regional gasification.

It was recommended that the Government of the Republic of Altai and local authorities are active in financially supporting the population at the stage of preparation for gas receipts.   

Background:

The Cooperation Agreement between Gazprom and the Republic of Altai was signed on September 21, 2006. The document stipulates amongst other things Gazprom’s participation in efficient projects for gas supply to the population and industrial plants in the Republic of Altai.

At present Gazprom does not supply natural gas to the Republic of Altai. Liquefied gas penetration into the region makes up 63.8 per cent.

In 2007 Gazprom invested RUB 100 mln in the Republic of Altai gasification, in 2008 – RUB 500 mln.  Gazprom funded the development of the General Scheme of the Republic of Altai.

The Barnaul – Biysk – Gorno-Altaisk gas main with the lateral to Belokurikha is planned to be put in operation in 2008.

The Altai Project contemplates supplying Russian natural gas to the People’s Republic of China. The Altai pipeline will link West Siberian fields with the Xinjiang-Uyghur Autonomous Region in western China.