Today the Ufa Engine Building Production Association premises (city of Ufa) hosted a joint meeting dedicated to improving the quality and reliability of engines for gas pumping units (GPU) supplied to Gazprom. The meeting was moderated by Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee.

Taking part in the meeting were top managers from Gazprom Administration specialized subdivisions and subsidiaries – Gazprom transgaz Saint Petersburg, Gazprom transgaz Ufa, Gazprom transgaz Tchaikovsky, Gazprom transgaz Yugorsk, Tsentrenergogaz and Orgenergogaz.

Russian production enterprises supplying GPU with engines were represented by heads and leading experts from the United Engine Building Corporation managing company, Ufa Engine Building Industrial Association, Saturn Scientific and Production Association, Ufa-AviaGaz, A. Lyulka Scientific and Technological Center, Iskra-Aviagaz, Motor Science and Production Enterprise.

In his opening speech Alexander Ananenkov underlined that implementation by Gazprom of a whole range of strategic gas transmission projects in the coming years offered great opportunities to Russian engine builders in terms of placing large orders for GPU engines.

“At the same time Gazprom’s high requirements to the production quality remain unchanged. We need engines that would both meet global efficiency standards and be highly competitive by reliability and other parameters. Nowadays Gazprom’s orders give Russian companies a real chance to update production and to develop the output of products meeting high requirements of our Company and enabling to defy competition in the global market. This chance should not be missed,” stressed A. Ananenkov.

The meeting participants discussed the order of top-priority actions aimed at improving the basic technical and operating specifications of domestic GPU. Special attention was paid to GPU reliability improvement.

Based on the meeting results the assignments were given aimed at intensifying the joint efforts to improve the quality of domestic GPU.

During today’s visit of the Gazprom delegation to Ufa Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman the Company’s Management Committee met with Murtaza Rakhimov, President of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The parties discussed the progress with the Cooperation Agreement, addressing, in particular, supplies of materials and equipment produced in the Republic for Gazprom’s needs and partnership prospects in the economic advancement of Bashkortostan.

Background:

Gas transmission is the most capital and energy intensive sector of Gazprom’s business due to a considerable capacity and length of the gas transmission system (GTS).

As of March 31, 2009, over 4,000 GPU with a total capacity exceeding 47,500 MW are being operated at 281 existing compressor stations (in-field booster compressor stations and UGS compressor stations inclusive) of Gazprom’s GTS. Under the Comprehensive Program for the reconstruction and technical re-equipment of gas transportation facilities over 2007 to 2010, Gazprom is going to upgrade or replace over 500 GPU.

Over fifteen years Gazprom has actively cooperated with national research institutes and machine-building companies and invested in joint activities and R&D to develop state-of-the-art gas pumping equipment. These efforts enabled the Company not only to satisfy its needs in the said equipment, but also to support the development of prominent science and production organizations during the period of economic reforms.

Gazprom and the Bashkortostan Republic Government signed the Cooperation Agreement in April 2006 and the Gasification Accord in June 2003.