Today in Bratsk Dmitry Mezentsev, Governor of the Irkutsk Oblast and Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee held a meeting on gas supply to and gasification of the Irkutsk Oblast.

The meeting addressed the issues of cooperation between Gazprom and the regional authorities as part of the Action Plan on gas supply to and gasification of the Irkutsk Oblast over 2009 to 2012.

Special emphasis fell on shaping the gas market within the Bratsk industrial hub, as well as gas consumption prospects in the Oblast and preparation of consumers for gas supplies.

Based on the meeting results, an updated General Scheme for gas supply to and gasification of the Irkutsk Oblast was signed.

Background:

The General Scheme for gas supply to and gasification of the Irkutsk Oblast was approved by the Directive of the Irkutsk Oblast Administration in 2005. Due to the approval of 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) by the Russian Industry and Energy Ministry Order of September 2007, the General Scheme had to be updated.

The updated General Scheme provided for establishing the Irkutsk gas production center also stipulated by the Eastern Gas Program. In addition, the regional fuel and energy balance structure was optimized, the Oblast’s gas demand was re-estimated and the hydrocarbons production strategy was adjusted. The new document adjusts the scheme for gas trunklines development and the gasification schemes for the Irkutsk Oblast regions. Moreover, the scenarios for developing the existing processing facilities and creating the new ones were optimized.

In December 2007 the first phase of the Bratsk condensate field (GCF) – Bratsk (45th residential district) gas trunkline was constructed and natural gas deliveries to the city commenced. Bratsk was the first population center of the Irkutsk Oblast to receive pipeline gas. The total length of the first-phase section is 26.6 kilometers. Upon construction of the Bratsk GCF – Bratsk gas trunkline, its total length will amount to nearly 70 kilometers.

In November 2009 Gazprom launched natural gas supplies to the settlement of Zyaba, Bratsk District, Irkutsk Oblast; in December – to the settlement of Gidrostroitel (Bratsk).

In 2008 Gazprom brought the Chikanskoye gas and condensate field into pilot operation. The field is the major resource base for the central and southern regions of the Oblast.

Between 2007 and 2009 Gazprom allotted RUB 595 million to gasify the Irkutsk Oblast. These funds were used to build two inter-settlement gas pipelines (the Osinovka gas distribution station – the settlement of Zyaba and the Osinovka gas distribution station – the settlement of Gidrostroitel).