Sochi hosted today the third meeting of the Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) as part of the Strategic Partnership Agreement between Gazprom and Petrovietnam State Oil and Gas Corporation.

The meeting was moderated by the JCC Chairmen – Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom's Management Committee and Nguyen Tien Dung, Vice President of Petrovietnam.

The meeting participants emphasized the high level of the long-term partnership and discussed the prospects for the companies' cooperation in oil and gas sector. In particular, the parties appreciated the efforts of the Vietgazprom joint operating company in implementing the projects at the Vietnamese continental shelf.

The JCC members paid special attention to issues of the Gazpromviet joint venture development. In addition, the parties considered the possibility to expand the cooperation between Gazprom and Petrovietnam in Russia and third countries. The meeting participants highlighted their interest in developing a long-term cooperation, also within joint projects in Eastern Russia.

Also the meeting addressed new cooperation forms of education, professional training and exchange of experience between Gazprom and Petrovietnam experts.

Following the meeting results the parties expressed their contentment with the achieved results and discussed the action plan of the JCC and Joint Working Group of Gazprom and Petrovietnam for the period from 2012 to 2013, the experts of the companies received the appropriate tasks.

Background

On September 11, 2000 Gazprom and Petrovietnam signed a contract that contemplated searching for, exploring, producing and marketing hydrocarbons in block 112 offshore Vietnam. To implement this contract Gazprom and Petrovietnam established a joint operating company, Vietgazprom. As a result of the geological exploration performed in 2007, the Bao Vang gas and condensate field was discovered in the block.

In May 2008 Gazprom and Petrovietnam inked the Agreement on Further Cooperation. The Agreement stipulates geological exploration and further development of four new blocks offshore Vietnam as well as incorporation of the Gazpromviet joint venture to run its business in Russia and third countries with the following shareholding structure: Gazprom – 51 per cent and Petrovietnam – 49 per cent.

Gazprom International, which is Gazprom's unified specialized company for hydrocarbons exploration and production abroad represents Gazprom group in Vietgazprom joint operating company (JOC) and Gazpromviet.

In October 2008 Gazprom and Petrovietnam signed a 30-year Oil and Gas Contract for blocks 129, 130, 131, 132 on the continental shelf of the Republic of Vietnam. The document stipulates hydrocarbons exploration, development and production in these blocks. The Contract will be implemented under the PSA terms. Vietgazprom will act as the project operator. At the geological exploration phase the project financing is carried out by Gazprom. As part of the Contract, 2D seismic exploration and geochemical research operations were performed. The obtained data is under processing and interpretation.

On December 15, 2009 Gazprom and Petrovietnam entered into the Agreement on Strategic Partnership. In line with the document the parties will continue their joint operations in the Vietnamese offshore blocks as contemplated by previously signed oil and gas contracts. They will also study future prospects for cooperation between the companies in vacant Vietnamese licensed blocks.

The Agreement also provides for a pro-active approach to oil and gas projects execution by Gazprom and Petrovietnam in Russia, Vietnam and in third countries within the newly created company Gazpromviet.

The Nagumanovskoye oil, gas and condensate field located in the Orenburg Oblast was defined as the key target for the companies' cooperation in Russia. The joint venture may be involved in operations at other licensed blocks in the long run.