Today at the Gazprom headquarters Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company’s Management Committee and Oleg Chirkunov, Governor of the Perm Krai signed an Agreement of Cooperation between Gazprom and the Perm Krai for an indefinite period.

The document envisages the following areas of the parties’ cooperation in the region:

- arranging steady gas supply to consumers;

- gasifying population centers;

- developing and improving the sustainable gas supply system;

- supplying liquefied natural gas to distant population centers;

- building up the capacities for natural gas utilization as a motor fuel;

- developing and adopting gas-saving technologies;

- delivering projects to improve measurement accuracy at gas flow metering stations;

- assuring environmental safety and rational nature management.

The Agreement fixes the parties’ intentions to jointly elaborate the measures aimed at the energy resource balance improvement and wider energy alternatives utilization in the Krai. In order to reinforce the regional energy base, it is projected to launch economically viable projects for power sources development on the basis of new-generation power units.

In addition, Gazprom and the Perm Krai will create in the region an energy-saving program providing for the utilization of energy-saving technologies and modern gas-powered facilities.

The Perm Krai will ensure timely and full payment for the current gas supplies by state-funded organizations and will assist Gazprom in taking of actions on observing the gas consumption discipline.

Gazprom will be provided with the necessary assistance in registering land plots for the construction of production and social welfare facilities.

On its part, Gazprom will secure reliable gas supply to the Perm Krai consumers. The Company will help allocate the prescribed amounts of natural gas for regional enterprises that promote manufacturing of import-substituting products, as well as application of energy-saving technologies and advanced gas-powered equipment.

Alexey Miller and Oleg Chirkunov addressed the current aspects of cooperation between Gazprom and the Perm Krai, touching upon the measures to repay consumers’ debt for supplied natural gas. In addition, the parties considered the progress with reconstructing the Chusovoy – Berezniki – Solikamsk 1 & 2 gas laterals, as well as the prospects for acquiring the first string of the Ocher – Kudymkar – Kupros gas lateral by Gazprom.

Background:

Natural gas penetration in the Perm Krai accounts for 63.9 per cent including 80.3 per cent in cities and towns and 17.3 per cent in the rural area. Throughout Russia these figures average 63.2, 67.5 and 45.5 per cent, accordingly.

Between 2006 and 2008 Gazprom invested RUB 582 million in the Perm Krai gasification. In 2009 Gazprom allocated RUB 250 million for the regional gasification. The funds were used to construct four inter-settlement gas pipelines with the total length of above 48 kilometers. At the same time, the Krai Administration arranged the construction of 105 kilometers of street-level networks, reconstruction of 11 boiler houses and gasification of 990 households.