Led by Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, a group of the Company's experts went on a business trip to the Far East.

Today Alexander Ananenkov has held a briefing at the Sakhalin main compressor station (MCS) under construction. The station is a part of the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas transmission system (GTS).

Startup operations and individual testing of equipment are nearing completion at the MCS. For instance, dry run testing of gas compressor units has been performed today. Preparations are underway for gas supply and comprehensive testing of the compressor station, the area of which is being improved. In the nearest future the MCS will pump natural gas via the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok system – the first interregional gas transmission network in the Far East.

Based on the meeting results, the tasks were given to ensure timely commissioning of the Sakhalin main compressor station.

Background

Gazprom's expert groups take regular trips to the Far East. A group comprises representatives of the Company's top management as well as its specialized subdivisions, subsidiaries and contracting agencies. The trips are primarily aimed at monitoring the execution of projects for the development of the Unified Gas Supply System in eastern Russia on the basis of the Company's resource base.

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 Eastern Gas Program gives priority to the creation and development of the Sakhalin – Khabarovsk – Vladivostok gas transmission system (GTS). Launched in July 2009, the GTS construction is targeted at developing gas supplies to the Khabarovsk Krai and the Sakhalin Oblast as well as arranging gas deliveries to the Primorsky Krai. The 1,350-kilometer first startup complex of the gas pipeline with the annual capacity of 6 billion cubic meters is to be brought onstream in the third quarter of 2011.