Today Gazprom’s Headquarters has hosted a Pipe Manufacturers Association session chaired by Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom’s Management Committee.

The session was attended by top management of the leading Russian pipe manufacturers and trade houses including TMK, Trade House TMK, United Metallurgical Company, Chelyabinsk Tube Rolling Plant Group and Izhorsky Pipe Plant.

The session discussed the prospects for further cooperation between Gazprom and Russian pipe companies.

The parties paid special attention to possible production of large diameter pipes with improved technical specifications for Gazprom’s gas transmission projects.

A focus was placed on the production of 120 Ata pipes required for the pipeline construction within the Yamal megaproject (at present, Russian plants are manufacturing large diameter pipes with an up to 100 Ata working pressure). The heads of pipe companies informed of their readiness for the industrial production of 120 Ata pipes in the amount satisfying Gazprom’s requirements.

The parties emphasized that Russian pipe plants are actively engaged in improving the quality and expanding the range of products manufactured for Gazprom as well as in applying advanced production technologies.

In delivering his report, Alexander Ananenkov pointed out that Gazprom was resolute to keep gearing its business toward Russian pipe manufacturers. However, a prerequisite for the acquisition of domestic pipes will continue to be their compliance with Gazprom’s most rigid requirements that are in line with globally accepted standards.

Reference:

To implement its overhaul & repair programs, in 2005 Gazprom purchased 918 thousand tons of pipes, of which 73% was Russian manufactured.

The Pipe Manufacturers Association was founded on February 26, 2004 by Gazkomplektimpex, TMK, United Metallurgical Company, Chelyabinsk Tube Rolling Plant Group, Pervouralsky Novotrubny Works, Gaztaged, VNIIGAZ, VNIIST, TsNIIChermet and NIIgazekonomika.