A working meeting was held today at the Gazprom headquarters between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company’s Management Committee and Alexander Berdnikov, Head of the Republic of Altai, Chairman of the Altai Republic Government.

The parties discussed the progress with the Agreement of Cooperation between Gazprom and the Altai Republic Government. It was noted that intensive regional gasification took place last year. Inter-settlement and gas distribution pipelines were constructed in Gorno-Altaisk and the settlement of Maima; 21 local boiler houses were converted to natural gas. This year, the households of these population centers will start to be connected to gas distribution networks.

It was noted at the meeting that Gazprom would continue investing in gasification of the Republic of Altai.

Background:

Gazprom and the Republic of Altai signed the Agreement of Cooperation and the Accord on Gasification in 2006.

The average gas penetration level in the region is below 1 per cent. The same rate throughout Russia averages 63.2 per cent. Between 2007 and 2009 Gazprom allocated RUB 1.1 billion for the regional gasification.