Today Surgut is hosting a joint workshop within the Coordinating Committee for Strategic Cooperation between Gazprom and BASF for the purpose of promoting the companies’ interaction in the petrochemical sector.

Vasily Podyuk, Member of the Management Committee, Head of the Gas, Gas Condensate and Oil Production Department of Gazprom and Dr. Hans-Ulrich Engel, Member of the Executive Directors Board of BASF SE welcomed the workshop participants.

“It is really symbolic we have convened in this very place, as Siberia forms the foundation of Gazprom’s resource base and it is the land that we associate our future development with. This includes the Yamal development and the Eastern Gas Program execution with an emphasis to be made on high-tech gas chemical facilities. Comprehensive development of the gas and processing industries fully corresponds with Gazprom’s strategic goals.

We need to unite our efforts in order to overcome the challenges faced by the industry and identify its further development targets. Our partnership with BASF is a good example of fruitful cooperation and this workshop will undoubtedly develop the partnership ties between our companies. The proven track record of our German partners in utilizing efficient chemical products in various production industries may be very useful for creating additional value throughout Gazprom’s energy business chain,” stated Vasily Podyuk.

“All of us are well informed on the positive results achieved through the streamlined and successful cooperation between BASF and Gazprom in the oil and gas sector.

As compared to the close and trusted partnership of Gazprom and BASF in the oil and gas sector, the companies’ business ties in the chemical industry are very limited. Therefore, at the last year’s meeting of the Coordinating Committee we reached the unanimous opinion that it was necessary to considerably develop our business contacts in the aim of promoting the cooperation in the chemical sector.

The workshop is perfect for discussing the possible expansion of our cooperation beyond the traditional oil and gas sector towards the new areas of activity related to chemical products supplies. The positive approach and the effective dialogue between the workshop participants make me feel confident that we’ll manage to significantly develop our business ties in the chemical sector,” said Hans-Ulrich Engel.

The workshop will address a wide range of issues related to developing the mutually-beneficial cooperation between Gazprom and BASF SE in the petrochemical sector. In particular, an emphasis will be placed on the advanced chemical developments that may be applied for oil and gas production, transportation and processing. The participants will also hear speeches on the latest achievements in chemical production and energy-saving technologies implementation.

The two-day workshop will last through February 12.

Background:

BASF SE is the world’s leading chemical company. Its activities portfolio covers plastic materials, special chemicals, agricultural and fine chemistry products, oil and natural gas. BASF is a reliable partner and facilitates its partners’ success in various areas. High-quality products and intelligent packaged solutions offered by the company play an important role in meeting global challenges, namely, environmental protection, efficient energy utilization, food production and mobility assurance. In 2008 the company’s annual sales volume exceeded EUR 62 billion and the number of employees totaled nearly 97 thousand people.

BASF SE is a partner of Gazprom in developing the Yuzhno-Russkoye field and constructing the Nord Stream gas pipeline. Additionally, the company, through its 100 per cent subsidiary Wintershall Holding AG is developing jointly with Gazprom the first pilot block of the Achimov deposits in the Urengoy oil, gas and condensate field.

Taking part in the workshop are more than 80 heads and experts from BASF SE and Gazprom, as well as from Wintershall Holding AG, ZAO BASF, Gazprom invest Yug, All-Russian Scientific-Research Institute for Petroleum Processing, Gazprom neft, Salavatnefteorgsintez, Sibur TyumenGas, Surgutneftegas, BASF Building Systems, Gazprom transgaz Surgut, Gazprom VNIIGAZ, Gazprom dobycha Astrakhan, Gazprom dobycha Orenburg, Gazprom dobycha Urengoy, Gazprom dobycha shelf, Gazprom komplektatsiya, Gazprom pererabotka, Gazprom podzemremont Orenburg, Gazprom podzemremont Urengoy, Gazpromrazvitiye, Gazprom neft Scientific and Technical Center, Novy Urengoy Gas and Chemical Complex, Sibur, Tobolsk-Neftekhim, Elastokam.