The Gazprom headquarters hosted today a working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Company's Management Committee and Vladimir Artyakov, Governor of the Samara Oblast.

The parties discussed the progress with the Agreement of Cooperation and, in particular, the issues concerning the Oblast gasification.

It was noted that Gazprom was building gas infrastructure for the exclusive economic zones located near the Togliatti city. In this respect, a regional gas supply scheme was adjusted and an action plan was shaped, according to which a gas distribution pipeline necessary for supplying gas to the exclusive economic zones would be commissioned in 2012.

In addition, the meeting considered measures aimed at fully clearing the arrears of the Samara Oblast consumers for the gas supplied.

Background

Gazprom and the Samara Oblast Government signed the open-ended Agreement of Cooperation in December 2009.

Natural gas penetration in the Samara Oblast makes up 92.6 per cent. The identical figure throughout Russia totals 63.1 per cent.

Between 2006 and 2010 Gazprom invested RUB 233 million in the Samara Oblast gasification. These funds were used to design and construct four inter-settlement gas pipelines with the total length of 57.4 kilometers.

This year the Company allocated RUB 69 million for the construction of a 25.1-kilometer gas pipeline in the Koshki District of the Samara Oblast.

From January to July 2011 the Samara Oblast consumers reduced their arrears for the gas supplied by more than RUB 768 million. It still remains rather high and stands at some RUB 1.25 billion as by August 1, 2011. The main debtors are Togliattiazot (RUB 614.5 million) as well as the residential sector and household utilities.