Today in Khabarovsk a Gazprom delegation headed by Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Company’s Management Committee took part in a meeting of the Council under the Plenipotentiary Envoy of the Russian Federation President to the Far Eastern Federal District (FEFD) Oleg Safonov dedicated to socioeconomic development and international cooperation in the Far East regions.

The meeting was attended by the heads of all the FEFD regions.

During the meeting Alexander Ananenkov spoke about the actual issues of gas supply development in the FEFD regions.

The speaker noted that Gazprom faced the crucial task of meeting the construction completion deadline for the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk –Vladivostok gas pipeline as set by the Russian Government. The implementation of this project, which is a top priority of the Eastern Gas Program, is intended to result in reliable gas supply to Russia’s Far East.

The gas pipeline construction is an important part of the activities covering the preparation of the 2012 APEC Summit in Vladivostok.

“Based on the results of the Government’s September 1 circuit session in Vladivostok dedicated to the APEC Summit preparation, the ministries and departments have been explicitly instructed on the energy and gas supply development in the Far East. On its part, Gazprom timely fulfils all of the orders given by Russia’s President and Government in relation to the gas industry development in the Far East,” emphasized Alexander Ananenkov.

The speaker noted that the long-term provision of the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk –Vladivostok gas transmission system with resources required accurately responding to the Russian Government’s decisions on timely solution of the issue with regard to granting licenses to Gazprom for new subsurface blocks rich in natural gas, including the Sakhalin Island and Kamchatka Peninsula offshore. 

Background:

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 reserves of the Chayanda oil, gas and condensate field in Yakutia, Sakhalin-3 Kirinsky, Vostochno-Odoptinsky and Ayashsky blocks offshore Sakhalin and Zapadno-Kamchatsky prospect offshore Kamchatka are of key significance for the development of gas supply in the Far East and formation of a unified gas supply system. The Russian Government awarded Gazprom the subsurface use license for the Chayanda oil, gas and condensate field, and Kirinskoye gas and condensate field.  Work is already underway to start operations at these sites in 2008. In accordance with the Russian Government’s resolutions adopted at the September 1, 2008 circuit meeting in Vladivostok, the work is in progress to obtain in 2008 licenses for the Kirinsky, Vostochno-Odoptinsky and Ayashsky blocks, and the Zapadno-Kamchatsky prospect.   

The Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas transmission system (GTS) is a top priority of the Eastern Gas Program. In pursuance of the order by the Russian Government and the decision by Gazprom’s Board of Directors, the work is currently underway to create GTS for the purpose of developing gas supply to the Khabarovsk Krai and Sakhalin Oblast, and organizing gas supply to the Primorsky Krai no later than in 2011.

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